Gassett named president of national organization

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Jon Gassett named president of national organization

Dr. Jon Gassett, commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, will serve as the new president of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
Gassett was named as head of the international organization during the association?s meeting Sept. 13.
During his one-year tenure, Gassett plans to pay particular attention to improving relations between state and federal partners.*
"These are trying and uncertain economic times for both federal and state agencies," he said. "But now more than ever we need to resolve our issues and tensions, and we need to do this with accountability, civility and respect through professional behavior among partners."
A certified wildlife biologist, Gassett received his undergraduate degree in biology from Kennesaw State University and his master's degree and doctorate in forest resources from the University of Georgia.
*Gassett came to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife in 1999 to run the state?s white-tailed deer program and oversee Kentucky?s fledging elk program. He rose quickly through the ranks. Gassett became director of the wildlife division in 2001. He received his appointment as commissioner over the agency in 2005.
Kentucky now has the largest elk herd east of the Mississippi River. Biologists estimate that Kentucky?s deer herd is larger now than at the time of Daniel Boone. During his tenure as commissioner, Gassett has made hunting and fishing access a priority, through land acquisition and agreements to open privately-owned lands to the public.
In accepting the presidency of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), Gassett urged state fish and wildlife agencies and federal natural resource agencies to stop focusing on credit or blame, but to get back to what all of the state and federal partners do well: sound, conservation-oriented decision-making.
"It's about all of us remembering why we do what we do," said Gassett. "Open dialog and trust between state and federal agencies will remain the key to keeping our relationship strong and effective, even when we agree to disagree."
Gassett currently serves in a leadership capacity on a number of the association?s committees including Angler and Boating Participation, Legislative and Federal Budget and Leadership and Professional Development. He also is the Chairman of AFWA's White Nose Syndrome Task Force and an alumnus of the National Conservation Leadership Institute.
Gassett will serve as president through September 2012.
The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies was founded in 1902 to establish a system of mutually beneficial interstate cooperation in game and fish management.
It currently represents North America?s fish and wildlife agencies to advance sound, science-based management and conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats in the public interest. Membership includes 56 states and territories, as well as federal agencies, conservation organizations and provinces in Canada and Mexico.

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