In accepting AFWA’s Presidency, Carter reflected on the critical importance of the Recovering America's Wildlife Act as well as all the accomplishments made by the Association over the past year under the leadership of Past-President Virgil Moore, Director of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
“Thank you for this opportunity and honor to serve in this capacity,” said Carter. “I am looking forward to personally working with all of the state and federal agencies, partners, and friends towards our common conservation goals. It is of great importance that we work together to conserve the fish and wildlife that are among this nation’s most valuable resources, along with clean air, water, healthy forests and agricultural lands that support all of us.”
Other priorities on Carter’s agenda include passage of The Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow’s Needs Act, engagement with federal ESA issues, and Chronic Wasting Disease. Carter also plans to continue efforts towards strengthening partnerships and increasing our efforts on hunting, shooting sports, angling and boating recruitment, retention and reactivation initiatives.
Carter will serve as AFWA President through September 2019.
“Ed Carter is a true leader in conservation with a wealth of knowledge and experience,” stated Virgil Moore, Director of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and 2017-2018 President of the Association of the Fish and Wildlife Agencies. “Ed brings new energy and insights that will be invaluable to the Association and its members as we forge ahead through the challenges of today.”
Carter’s career began with the TWRA in 1972. He served as an education representative, hunter education coordinator, education and law enforcement training officer and a Region II assistant regional manager over the 25 counties of middle Tennessee. . He became TWRA’s Chief of the Boating Division when the division was formed in 1990. TWRA is the sole state agency charged with the responsibility for boating safety and law enforcement. Carter was named the Executive Director of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency in 2009.
“Ed Carter has been a true champion of wildlife and conservation for more than 46 years,” said Kurt Holbert, Vice Chair of Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission. “I have no doubt that he will continue to make Tennessee proud by leading the advancement of those interests on a national scale. “
Ed carter has chaired numerous AFWA committees and task forces during his tenure in Tennessee. He will also receive the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Meritorious Award, the Institute’s highest and most prestigious award, later this month.
A native of Hawkins County, Carter is a graduate of the University of Tennessee. He and his wife of 44 years, Karen, have three adult children Mark, Tracie, and Christie.
The full list of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies elected 2018-2019 Officers and Executive Committee:
President: Ed Carter, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Vice President: Glenn Normandeau, New Hampshire Fish & Game Department
Secretary/Treasurer: Gordon Myers, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Past President: Virgil Moore, Idaho Fish & Game Department
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Chair: Bob Broscheid, Colorado Division of Parks & Wildlife
Vice Chair: Sara Parker Pauley, Missouri Department of Conservation
Members:
Mark Reiter, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Jim Douglas, Nebraska Game & Parks Commission
Kelly Hepler, South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department
Carter Smith, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Cathy Sparks, Rhode Island Dept. of Environmental Management
Tony Wasley, Nevada Department of Wildlife
EX OFFICIO VOTING MEMBERS Canada: Travis Ripley, Alberta Environment & Parks
REGIONAL ASSOCIATION MEMBERS
Midwest: Terry Steinwand, North Dakota Game and Fish Department
Northeast: Jim Connolly, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife
Southeast: Chuck Sykes, Alabama Division of W
ldlife and Freshwater FisheriesWestern: Curt Melcher, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
