Decorah native Kim Lyon has been tabbed as the new director of the Department of Natural Resources.

Lyon will become the first woman to lead the agency and be the eighth director overall when she begins the job on July 8th.

Lyon has been the Governor Kim Reynolds legislative liaison and lead policy advisor on agriculture and natural resources issues. She oversaw D-N-R operations including regulatory permitting, conservation efforts, and wildlife issues. Prior to joining the Governor’s office, she spent her career in government affairs working on agriculture, renewable fuels, water quality, and environmental policy while representing farmers and agribusiness.