DCNR Leadership

Vinson Guthreau

Director, Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources 

Vinson Guthreau serves as Director of the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, appointed by Governor Joe Lombardo in 2026. He brings extensive experience in federal, state, and local government, along with a strong background in communications and public policy. Before joining DCNR, he served as Executive Director of the Nevada Association of Counties, where he supported county governments statewide and advanced initiatives that strengthen Nevada communities. Guthreau brings a broad range of experience supporting Nevadans, from leading government affairs initiatives at NACO to managing communications and rural outreach in the office of U.S. Congressman Jim Gibbons. Raised in Sparks, NV, Guthreau is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno, where he earned a degree in Political Science and Communications. He has spent much of his career working on issues important to Nevadans, including a previous role within DCNR. His deep connection to Nevada and commitment to public service guide his leadership of the Department. 

Dominique Etchegoyhen

Deputy Director, Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Dominique Etchegoyhen became a Deputy Director in 2017. Prior to working for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, he co-founded a land use consulting firm dedicated to protecting and enhancing natural and cultural resources in Nevada. He is licensed to practice law in Nevada and California, and served as a law clerk to Judge Howard D. McKibben in the U.S. District Court, District of Nevada. Etchegoyhen is a graduate of the University of Colorado and Golden Gate University School of Law, where he was a Member and Editor of the Law Review, and received the Faculty Award for Academic Excellence in Environmental Law. Prior to his legal career, he worked in Washington, D.C., as a Legislative Aide to U.S. Senator Richard H. Bryan.

Chad J. Stephens

Deputy Director, Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Chad Stephens joined the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources as a Deputy Director in April 2023. He started his state service in 2004, and has managed  a wide range of environmental compliance, conservation, and sustainability programs for the State of Nevada Office of the Military and the Nevada System of Higher Education. Stephens is a Certified Environmental Manager and Certified Hazardous Materials Manager, holds a B.S. in Environmental and Natural Resource Science from the University of Nevada, and a M.P.H. from Tulane University.

Jennifer L. Carr P.E.

Administrator, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection

Jennifer Carr was appointed administrator of the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection in 2023. She has been with the NDEP since 1996 in various programs and capacities, including eight years as Deputy Administrator with oversight of the agency's water quality programs, eight years as the Bureau Chief for Safe Drinking Water, two years as Chief for the Bureau of Air Quality Planning, and many years working and supervising within the Bureaus of Water Pollution Control and Corrective Actions. Carr is a Nevada Registered Professional Engineer in Civil Engineering, is a Nevada Certified Public Manager, a Nevada Certified Environmental Manager, holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Montana State University, and an A.A.S. in Architecture and Building Engineering Technology from Vermont Technical College.

Ryan S. Shane

State Forester Firewarden and Administrator, Nevada Division of Forestry 

Ryan S. Shane was appointed State Forester Firewarden and Administrator of the Nevada Division of Forestry in March 2026. A lifelong Nevadan and Carson City native, he has extensive experience with the Division focused on forestry, wildfire operations, and landscape management. Shane joined NDF in 2008 as a forester after working as an environmental consultant in the private sector and has since led initiatives focused on improving wildfire resilience and forest health across Nevada. He has extensive experience in wildfire suppression and prescribed fire operations and has served on Complex Incident Management Teams. In 2014 Shane joined NDF’s State Office in Carson City, where he held several leadership roles before being promoted to Deputy Administrator of Operations in 2021. In that role Shane helped advance major state and federal investments in wildfire risk reduction and landscape restoration. He holds both a bachelor’s degree in forestry and rangeland management and a master’s degree in natural resource and environmental science from the University of Nevada, Reno. 

Joe Cacioppo, P.E. 

State Engineer and Administrator, Nevada Division of Water Resources 

Joe Cacioppo was appointed as the State Engineer and Administrator of the Nevada Division of Water Resources in March 2026. Cacioppo is a veteran of the United States Army and a licensed civil engineer with extensive experience in water resources, Nevada water law, water rights administration, dam safety, floodplain hydrology and hydraulics, civil engineering design, and resource management. Prior to joining the Division, Cacioppo spent over 30 years as a consulting civil engineer. During this time, he concurrently served his community as a Trustee and Past-President for the Carson City School District, Commissioner for the Carson City Parks and Recreation Commission, Construction and Design committee member for the Northern Nevada Development Authority, President for the Nevada Section and Capitol Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and a member of the Board of Directors for the Carson City Chamber of Commerce. As State Engineer and Administrator, Cacioppo oversees the administration of Nevada’s water laws and the management of the state’s water resources. 

Charles Donohue

Administrator and State Land Registrar, Nevada Division of State Lands

Charles Donohue has served as the Administrator and State Land Registrar since his appointment in 2014. He started his state service in 2001 with the Conservation Districts Program, prior to joining the Nevada Tahoe Resource Team in 2003. Donohue was the Water Quality Program Specialist on the team and later the Tahoe Program Manager, coordinating the implementation of the Environmental Improvement Program (EIP) for Nevada. He has conducted resource inventory and restoration work from southern Vermont and New Hampshire to the Eastern Sierras. Donohue relocated to Nevada in 1999 from Kenya, East Africa, where he worked as a Natural Resource Consultant.

Robert Mergell

Administrator, Nevada Division of State Parks

Robert Mergell was appointed as the Administrator for Nevada State Parks in January 2019. He began as a seasonal Park Aid at Floyd Lamb State Park near Las Vegas while attending college, and after serving in the United States Marine Corps, he worked at Glacier National Park before becoming a Park Ranger at South Fork State Recreation Area in 1995. Since then, Mergell has worked as a Ranger at Lahontan State Recreation Area, as a Park Supervisor at Wild Horse State Recreation Area, as Nevada State Park’s Northern Regional Manager, and most recently, as the Deputy Administrator before becoming Acting Administrator in October, 2018. 

Jamey McClinton

Administrator, Nevada Division of Natural Heritage

Jamey McClinton joined the Nevada Division of Natural Heritage in 2022 as Supervisory Botanist. During this tenure, she secured over half a million dollars in grant funds to support expanded monitoring and seed collection by utilizing her published research on the threats faced by Nevada's critically endangered rare plants. McClinton was appointed Administrator of the agency in 2023. She holds a B.S. in Ecological Management and Restoration from the University of California, Davis, an M.S. in Natural Resources and Environmental Science from the University of Nevada, Reno, and has authored several peer-reviewed publications. In her role as Administrator, McClinton leads NDNH’s efforts to support the needs of diverse planning, conservation management, research, education, and economic development activities by maintaining biodiversity data for Nevada’s at-risk plants, animals, and ecological communities. 

Denise Beronio

Administrator, Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation

Denise Beronio was appointed Administrator of the Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation on April 11, 2023. In her role, she promotes Nevada's exceptional outdoor recreation opportunities and the conservation of its natural environment. A resident of Douglas County for over 30 years, Beronio is an avid outdoor enthusiast and lifelong equestrian. She has served on the Douglas County Sheriff’s Advisory Council, various Douglas County School District committees, and has volunteered with the Nevada Department of Wildlife and local hunting organizations. Recently, she worked as a Senior Mortgage Loan Officer with Prime Lending Company. Beronio holds a B.S. in Business Management from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Arthur Krupicz State Historic Preservation Officer, Nevada State Historic Preservation Office

Arthur Krupicz was appointed on May 19, 2025 to lead SHPO’s efforts to identify, preserve, and promote Nevada’s historic and archaeological resources. He is responsible for overseeing the state’s compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act, supporting local preservation programs and Certified Local Governments, administration of federal and state grant programs, and collaborative engagement with Nevada’s 21 federally recognized tribes, local governments, and public land management agencies. Krupicz brings over three decades of experience in historic preservation, archaeology, and public service. He holds a Master of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Arkansas and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Maryland.