Tony Caligiuri, the former chief of staff to defeated Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest, re-announced today that he is joining the National Wildlife Federation as regional executive director of the group's new Chesapeake Atlantic Natural Resource Center in Reston, Va.
First word of Caligiuri taking the job came back in October. Since then, he split duties between the group and the congressional office during the transition. But with the 111th Congress -- sans Gilchrest -- convening next Tuesday, the time has come for him to move to full-time green status.
Caligiuri and his wife, Lynn, actively supported Democrat Frank Kratovil during the general election for the 1st Congressional District. Lynn Caligiuri was a fund-raiser for Gilchrest, but collected money for Kratovil after the incumbent's primary defeat. Tony Caligiuri began attending Kratovil events well before his boss gave public support to Kratovil.
Tony Caligiuri's "long tenure" with Gilchrest and "devotion to conservation in the Chesapeake Atlantic region make him an ideal leader of our new regional Natural Resource Center," said NWF president and CEO Larry Schweiger in a statement.
Caligiuri had been chairman of the Maryland League of Conservation Voters Education Fund for a decade.
