Robert N. Cleaves

Dr. Robert N. Cleaves, Founder and President Wilderness Conservancy, Los Angeles, California.

"Dr. Cleaves is an attorney. He holds a Bachelor of Science of Law, Bachelor of Law and JurisDoctor degrees from the University of Southern California and a Ph.D. in Strategic Studies. He was a jet fighter pilot and test pilot from 1950-1986, first on active duty in the United States Air Force and then on Reserve duty as a deputy Judge Advocate General (JAGAR). His civilian aeronautical license is "Airline Transport Pilot", which is the highest aeronautical rating issued by the Federal Aviation Administration. He is rated in single and multi-engine land and sea aircraft and has accumulated more than 10,000 hours as pilot-in-command.

"Dr. Cleaves represented President Ronald Reagan at the transition of Rhodesia to Zimbabwe in 1980, and later on matters relating to Angola during its civil war. Dr. Cleaves, along with Dr. Ian Player, co-founded The International Wilderness Leadership Foundation (The WILD Fdn) which has put on six World Wilderness Congresses (Johannesburg, Cairn, Inverness, Denver/Estes Park, Norway and India) attended by more than seventy nations of the world. Dr. Cleaves has been involved in conservation and antipoaching in southern Africa since 1968 and is regarded as an expert in the use of aircraft in antipoaching.

"On April 20, 1997 Dr. Cleaves received the United Nations Earth Day/Earth Fair "International Environment Award." Was first FAA Aviation Accident Counselor in Western Region, GADO-6, April 1972, and is an FAA Aviation Safety Counselor to date."

"One of the founders of The WILD Foundation and General Counsel for many years, Dr. Cleaves is a retired attorney and former jet test pilot. Currently, he holds the highest civilian aeronautical license (“Airline Transport Pilot”) issued by the FAA. His distinguished career includes service to both government and the private sector, and he is founder and President of Wilderness Conservancy. Considered an expert on the use of aircraft in antipoaching, Dr. Cleaves has been active in conservation in southern Africa for 30 years, and more recently in Mexico."

• Trustee, WILD Foundation