WAFWA recognizes Wyoming Game and Fish Commission

The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission was recognized at the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) awards ceremony with the annual Commission/Board of the Year Award.

WAFWA represents 23 states, including Wyoming, as well as several Canadian provinces. The association helps provide resources to build partnerships within state, federal and nonprofit organizations to conserve wildlife for the use and benefit of the public.

Commission/Board of the Year Award

The Commission/Board of the Year Award is presented in recognition of significant contribution to the management, protection or enhancement of fish and wildlife resources within the past five years.

“This award is well deserved and reflects the excellent work our commission has done for conservation efforts in Wyoming,” Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) Director Angi Bruce said. “Our commissioners demonstrate their commitment to WGFD’s mission and Wyoming’s wildlife and do a great job balancing the complex scientific and socio-economic needs that come with determining effective policies and regulations for our agency.”

Individual awards

Department personnel were also recipients of several individual WAFWA awards.

Dave Zafft, WGFD deputy chief of fisheries, was the recipient of the Professional of the Year Award. 

Zafft began working for the WGFD in 1986 as a seasonal technician and earned his master’s degree in fisheries biology in 1991. 

Zafft began his fisheries career in earnest as a Lander Regional Fisheries biologist. He also worked as an instream flow biologist, fish population biologist, supervisor of the aquatic assessment crew, assistant fisheries management supervisor and fisheries management supervisor.  

Christina Maleesa, WGFD federal aid coordinator, received the Outstanding WAFWA Contributor of the Year for her work both within the state and with partners on grant writing.

Maleesa has worked for WGFD since 2014 and has served as the federal aid coordinator for the department since 2023.

In addition to her fiscal oversight, she represents U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region Six on the national Federal Aid Working Group. Her commitment to excellence has earned her numerous honors, including the WGFD 2022 Fiscal Employee of the Year and a Director’s Coin for her administration of the Governor’s Big Game License Coalition.   

“We are proud of both Zafft and Maleesa, and we are grateful for all they do to ensure our ability to continue serving Wyoming and its wildlife,” Bruce said. “Our agency is full of dedicated professionals who help keep Wyoming at the forefront of conservation in the country, and these awards are well deserved.”

WGFD is dedicated to conserving, enhancing and protecting Wyoming’s exceptional fish and wildlife resources and the habitats that support them. For more information, visit wgfd.wyo.gov.