History has been made!! The graduation ceremony for the first-ever 35 member class of the National Association of Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Leadership Academy took place on Thursday, September 18, 2014 at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Academy participants came from across 26 states and Canada.
NACLEC, in conjunction with the USFWS Office of Law Enforcement, developed a vision for this academy at a nationwide meeting at the National Conservation Training Center in April 2012. The vision has become a reality with the graduation of this first class.
NACLEC is very proud of each member of the class, and very appreciative of our partner in this effort, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. William Woody, Chief of the USFWS Office of Law Enforcement has been very supportive of our leadership development initiative. In addition, Jay Slack, Director of the USFWS National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, and his staff, have been a model for hospitality and customer service at NCTC. The USFWS was key to the success of this initiative.
NACLEC is also very appreciate of the work of Academy Administrative Services Coordinator Marcie Marquardt. With Marcie's competent efforts, and close attention to detail, the academy would not have been a success.
Applications for the second academy to be held in 2015 will be solicited in November 2014. Watch for additional information on the application process in mid to late October 2014.
The members of the first graduating class in the photo located below are as follows:
Front Row (L to R): Jeffrey Samorajczyk (CT); Curtis Brown (FL); Dean Harre (MO); Randy Stark (NACLEC Exec. Director & Chief, WI - Ret.); Daniel Menard (ME); Thomas Strother, III (MO); Pete Flores (Colonel, TX - Ret.); Marcie Marquardt (Leadership Academy Staff); William Woody (USFWS Law Enforcement Chief)
Second Row (L to R): Thomas Grohol (PA); Nathan Erdman (OK); Gene Elms (Chief, AZ); Jay Slack (NCTC Director)
Third Row (L to R): Rodmen Smith (MN); Jeffrey Weaver (GA); Richard King (WY); Kevin Davis (TX); Doug Shugart (OR); Robert Fleenor (Colonel, OK); Kurt Blanchard (Deputy Chief, RI);
Fourth Row (L to R): BJ Thurman (KS); Randy Shoup (PA); Rick Olson (UT); Jonathan Cornish (ME); Steven Hall (AK); Larry Yamnitz (Chief, MO)
Fifth Row (L to R): Travis McLain (MO); Glen Ehler (Nova Scotia, Canada)
Sixth Row (L to R): David Bess (CA); Andrew Alban (SD): Mark Walker (OK); Cody Jones (TX); Bernard Chastain (AK); Kyle Overturf (Colonel, CT)
Seventh Row (L to R): Frank Floor (RI); Randy Doman (MO); Casey Krueger (WI); Jack Daugherty (FL); Walter Rabon (GA); Karl Brooks (WI)
Eighth Row (L to R): Dan Hoenke (ND); Harold Guse (MT); Scott Jurk (TX); Justin Shirley (UT)
Flanked By: Pennsylvania Game Commission Ceremonial Unit.
