Commissioner Congratulates Director On Special Achievement Award
Juneau, AK - Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) Commissioner Kevin C. Duffy congratulated Kelly Hepler, Director of ADF&G's Sport Fish Division, for receiving a Special Achievement Award from the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA).
"Kelly Hepler exemplifies leadership and dedication to the management of Alaska's fishery resources," said Commissioner Duffy. "Kelly has made innumerable contributions to the advancement of fish and wildlife management over the past several years, both on a national and state level, and is certainly deserving of this prestigious award. I am grateful to Kelly for his continued service and to WAFWA for recognizing Kelly's many accomplishments."
On a national level, Director Hepler has been appointed to a number of national committees by the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (IAFWA) and the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Through his participation on these committees, Hepler has assisted in the development of a strategic plan for the USFWS's fishery program; participated in a review of the federal aid program; and examined national fisheries and water resource policy issues. Through his involvement, Director Hepler has sought to reduce conflict between state and federal resource managers and to make government programs more effective and efficient.
Within Alaska, Director Hepler's leadership has resulted in the first-ever strategic plan for ADF&G's Division of Sport Fish, and a statewide trout management plan and policy to assure that Alaska's trout stocks will continue to provide benefits for future generations. Hepler also played an integral role in implementing Emergency Order 107, which transferred statutory responsibilities for habitat management and permitting under the Anadromous Fish Act from ADF&G to the Alaska Department of Natural Resources' Office of Habitat Management and Permitting.
Kelly Hepler has been an ADF&G employee for 25 years. He received the Special Achievement Award at a recent WAFWA meeting held in Sun Valley, Idaho from July 24-29. WAFWA is a membership organization that advocates state's rights in fish and wildlife issues; promotes efficiencies in government by exchanging research and management information; and is comprised of fish and wildlife agencies from 23 states and Canadian provinces.