On August 1, the U.S. Senate confirmed Brian Nesvik as the new director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by a vote of 54-43. Nesvik, who served as the director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) from 2019 until his retirement in 2024, was nominated in February and received a hearing in March. He served in the Wyoming Army National Guard including on two combat deployments, ultimately being promoted to brigadier general where he commanded the state’s volunteer guard for almost four years. Professionally, he worked for WGFD for nearly three decades, rising up through the law enforcement division to become Wyoming’s chief game warden before being tapped as the director of the agency by Governor Mark Gordon.

“These experiences and opportunities starting in the field and working my way up have prepared me well to work complex, convoluted problems into decisive action in uncertain environments,” Nesvik stated during his confirmation hearing. “I’m proud of my work on big game migration corridors, protecting my state from the scourge of invasive species and working with the public and talented wildlife managers to recover species listed under the ESA.”

During his testimony he identified his commitment to meet the administration’s goals of better serving the citizens of our country by: “improving the Service’s interactions with the public, simplifying regulations, accelerating permitting with technology, and relying more on education, voluntary compliance, and verification.”

“I share Secretary Burgum’s vision that innovation outperforms regulation. Creative, innovative, purposeful action is a proven hallmark of American success,” he concluded in his hearing. “President Theodore Roosevelt personified such action as America’s earliest and most influential conservationist. His leadership and achievements have long influenced my career in wildlife conservation. His oft-quoted arena metaphor combines thoughtfulness, pragmatism, and courage. If confirmed to enter this arena I will dare greatly.”

Well-known in the wildlife conservation and management community, Nesvik was active with the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies serving as its president in 2023. His nomination and confirmation were broadly supported by conservation organizations.