The Missouri Department of Natural Resources names an acting director as its former leader heads to Washington. 

Mark Templeton has been named the Executive Director of the Office of Independent trustees of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Trust.

Templeton took over as MoDNR Director in 2009.  He will be replaced by Kip Stetzler, the current Director the Western Regional Office of the Governor.  Since January of 2009 when Stetzler was appointed Acting Director of the Missouri Department of Insurance, he has been Director of the Taxation Division of the Missouri Department of Revenue and then Director of Reporting for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Stetzler was also an assistant attorney general from 2000 to 2008.

In his role as Executive Director of the Office of Independent Trustees of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Trust, Templeton will be responsible for ensuring that funds are made available to address claims of those affected by the oil spill.

Governor Jay Nixon says the state will now begin a national search for a new director for the department of natural resources.