Secretary and Executive Team

Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary

Karen Hyun, Ph.D has extensive experience working on natural resources, stewardship and conservation issues. Hyun has most recently served as the chief of staff of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) since 2021. She also has more than a decade of experience in policy and environmental work. 

Hyun began her career in 2009, staffing the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Natural Resources. In 2012, Hyun served as a senior policy advisor for the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of the Secretary and also the chief of staff position for the Department’s Office of the Deputy Secretary in 2013.

Hyun then became the senior advisor for NOAA in June 2014 before becoming the deputy assistant secretary for fish, wildlife, and parks at the Department of the Interior in 2015. Additionally, she led and coordinated initiatives focused on coastal resilience, Gulf of Mexico restoration, marine conservation and coastal stewardship at the National Audubon Society, serving as the director of water and coastal policy before becoming the vice president of coastal conservation in 2018.

Hyun earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Earth Systems from Stanford University in California and a doctorate in Marine Affairs from the University of Rhode Island. Hyun lives with her husband and children in Madison.

Steven Little, Deputy Secretary

Steven brings to the DNR's Leadership Team more than 25 years of public policy, executive budget management, financial regulatory, and government relations experience in both the public and private sector. Prior to accepting an appointment as the Director of Management and Budget for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Steven was a Senior Vice President of Government Relations for Citigroup Inc., with a focus on state government relations in the Upper Midwest.

Steven holds a Master's Degree from the Robert M La Follette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and received his undergraduate degree in Government from Beloit College. Steven and his family enjoy hiking and whitewater rafting in Wisconsin's great outdoors.

Mark Aquino, Assistant Deputy Secretary

Mark Aquino, Assistant Deputy Secretary

Mark Aquino, a manager at the DNR since 2001, started his career with the state as a management analyst at the Legislative Audit Bureau. In 1997, he was promoted to Section Supervisor of the Department of Transportation's strategic issues section. He started with the DNR in 2001 working as land services team leader, and was promoted to south central region land leader in 2005 and, and subsequently deputy land division administrator in 2009. Since then, Aquino has also served as Division Administrator for the External Services Division.