Sykes elected president of Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies
By Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies
Chuck Sykes, director of the Alabama Division of Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries, has been elected president for 2023-24 by the membership of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies. His election occurred during the Association’s 113th annual meeting Sept. 23-27 in Calgary, Canada.
In accepting the Association’s presidency, Sykes reflected on his passion for the outdoors and commitment to fish and wildlife conservation and expressed gratitude for the leadership and accomplishments made by AFWA under Past-President Curt Melcher.
“My life has always been about conservation,” Sykes said. “This job is often not glamorous and not thanked. But the work our state agencies do is extremely important, and I am honored to be selected to serve as president of AFWA.”
Sykes will serve as the Association president through September 2024.
“Chuck Sykes will be a great asset to AFWA as president, bringing a great wealth of knowledge and experience,” according to 2022-23 President Curt Melcher. “His insight through his years of service in conservation, his common sense and desire for open dialog will bring leadership that will be invaluable as we navigate the challenges of today.”
Chuck Sykes has been the director of Alabama’s Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries at the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources since December 2012.
He earned a degree in wildlife biology in 1992 from Auburn University in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Science. Over the years, Sykes’ career path has varied from guide and general manager of several prominent commercial hunting lodges, to creating a full-service natural resource consulting firm, creating a television show dedicated to wildlife management and habitat restoration, to a biological service manager, and finally to director of the Alabama Division of Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries.
PHOTO 1 - Chuck Sykes, director, Alabama Division of Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries.