From staff reports
Longtime Ripley County conservation agent Darren Killian has been promoted to a district supervisory position with the Missouri Department of Conservation.
Killian will serve as district supervisor for the Ozark Region's West Plains protection district. He replaces Gerald Smith, who was named Ozark Protection regional supervisor in August.
Killian, who will continue to reside in Doniphan, will be responsible for supervising conservation agents in Ripley, Carter, Howell and Oregon counties. He has served as a conservation agent in Ripley County for the past 18 years.
"Being a conservation agent in Ripley County and working in surrounding counties during my career has allowed me to work with some great people, who, like myself, enjoy some of the most diverse natural resources our state has to offer," he said.
Killian has earned several awards during his career. In 2004, he was recognized as the Ozark Region's Outstanding Conservation Agent. In 2012, he was presented the Missouri Officer Of The Year Award by the National Wild Turkey Federation.
He also was nominated two other times for the NWTF statewide honor.
A native of Sikeston, he graduated from Sikeston High School in 1994. In 1998, he earned a bachelors degree in criminal justice at Southeast Missouri State University.
Following graduation, he was accepted into the conservation agent training academy before being assigned to Ripley County.
When not working, Killian's favorite pastimes are watching his son, Ben, and daughter, Kensey, participate in sports. He also enjoys sharing with his children his love, knowledge and respect for the outdoors that ultimately drove his desire to pursue a career with the department.