David Nomsen, Pheasant?s Forever?s current South Dakota regional office Director, was awarded the Wildlife Management Institute?s (WMI) 2016 George Bird Grinnell Memorial Award for Distinguished Service to Natural Resource Conservation. The award was conferred last month during the annual Conservation Administrators Luncheon at the 81^st North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The award, established in honor of the acknowledged ?Father of American Conservation? ? George Bird Grinnell ? is WMI?s highest honor for individual contribution to conservation in North America. WMI President Steve Williams presented the award to Nomsen noting that, ?It cannot be overstated how fundamental our recipient?s work has been for wildlife habitat conservation.?

Nomsen began his career researching South Dakota bobcats in the early 1980?s before joining the National Wildlife Federation where he began honing his signature ability to pull together the conservation and wildlife community to accomplish complex and critically needed conservation goals. In 1992, Nomsen began working for Pheasants Forever where he served as a regional wildlife biologist, the Vice President for Government Affairs, and currently as the Director of Pheasant?s Forever?s South Dakota regional office.

?Dave is one of the few professionals who have been instrumental in every farm bill since the Conservation Reserve Program was introduced in the 1985 bill,? said Williams. ?He remains one of the best at working wildlife and habitat issues across every phase of Capital Hill operations; whenever Senate or House Agriculture Committees needed to know the voices or pulse of the conservation and wildlife communities, Dave?s voice was always requested, and importantly, always available.?

During his long and highly effective career, Nomsen has been appointed to numerous federal councils, including the Garrison Federal Advisory Council, the White House Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council, and the North American Wetlands Conservation Council, all of which he has served upon with distinction and tenacity.

?Dave?s achievements have been ground-breaking, his impacts extensive, and his style quiet,? stated Williams. ?He has the unique and seldom seen ability to argue for and achieve common sense conservation policy on Capitol Hill, and this skill of his is why we have had so many successes in conservation policy.?