Brian Powell is the Executive Director of the Arizona Deserts National Parks Partnership (ADNPP), bringing deep experience as a natural resources professional and long-time student of the Sonoran Desert. Before joining ADNPP in November 2025, he spent 18 years with Pima County advancing the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan, with a focus on biological monitoring, habitat restoration, invasive species management, and land stewardship. Earlier in his career, from 2000 to 2007, Brian was a researcher at the University of Arizona, where he led a 10-park plant and wildlife inventory across parks now affiliated with ADNPP. He holds an MS in Wildlife Sciences from the University of Arizona and a BA from The Evergreen State College. Outside of work, Brian is an avid potter and nature wanderer. He lives in Arizona with his wife, Leza Carter; they have two children.