Leaders of every company / enterprise set the tone and culture for the employees to follow and emulate. Since state game and fish departments have oversight of herptiles (native and non-native) in each state, it is informative to review the backgrounds and preparation of individuals leading the departments. Recall that in most (if not all) states the governor appoints the Director over game and fish departments. Usually then, state legislatures approve the appointment. And, most all game and fish departments have an advisory council or advisory commissioners who recommend to the Director, and ultimately the governor, statutes and regulations for herptiles and other animals. It is said the advisory councils or advisory commissioners function on behalf of the state's citizens.
Directors of state game and fish departments come to the job with formal eduction and experience. Herptile keepers should be acquainted with the Directors and other leaders in their state's game and fish departments. As a starting point, below are a few examples. Readers may wish to add similar information about game and fish department leaders for their state.
ALABAMA
Christopher M. Blankenship - Commissioner
Governor's Press Release - no mention of formal education.
https://governor.alabama.gov/cabinet...ral-resources/
Game and Fish website - no mention of formal education.
https://www.outdooralabama.com/AboutUs
LinkedIn - self describes a Batchelor's degree in "Criminal Justice / Police Science"
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-blankenship-8a2267b0/
Batchelor's Degree in "Police Science" is not evident at the University of South Alabama
https://www.southalabama.edu/college...aljustice.html
NEBRASKA
Tim McCoy, PhD - Director
Batchelor's Degree - Agriculture
Master's Degree - Fisheries and Wildlife
Doctoral Degree - Wildlife Science
Outdoor Nebraska
https://magazine.outdoornebraska.gov...y-as-director/
TEXAS
David Yoskowitz, PhD - Executive Director
Batchelor's Degree - Economics and Finance
Master's Degree - Economics
Doctoral Degree - Economics (Environmental and Natural Resources Economics)
Resume
https://www.harteresearch.org/sites/...Oct.1.2020.pdf
VIRGINIA
Ryan Brown, JD - Executive Director
Batchelor's Degree - Government
Juris Doctor - Law (Natural Resource Policy)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-brown-a6376626/
https://congressionalsportsmen.org/n...tor-appointed/
MICHIGAN
Scott Bowen, JD - Director
Batchelor's Degree - History
Juris Doctor - Law
https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/about/m...%20much%20more.
CALIFORNIA
Charlton Bonham, JD - Director
Juris Doctor - Law (Natural Resources)
https://wildlife.ca.gov/Director#:~:...on%20H.,Bonham
COLORADO
Jeff Davis - Director
Batchelor's Degree - Biology, Wildlife Management
https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/Leadership.aspx
WISCONSIN
Justine Hasz - Director
Batchelor's Degree - Environmental Biology, Marine Biology
Master's Degree - Marine Fisheries Science
Master's Degree - Freshwater Fisheries Management
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Fish.../centraloffice
https://www3.uwsp.edu/cnr/WCW/Pages/JustineHasz.aspx
UTAH
Joel Ferry - Executive Director
Batchelor's Degree - Economics and Finance
https://naturalresources.utah.gov/le...tion%20officer.