LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Corky Pugh, director of the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, has been named president of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) at the annual meeting of the agency here.

Pugh has served in a wide range of leadership roles in Alabama's state government since the 1970s. He serves as chairman of the Association’s Education, Outreach and Diversity Committee, where he brings a passion to conservation education and marketing. As president, he plans to continue to champion these issues and many others throughout the year, including hunter and angler recruitment and retention, managing and communicating about invasive species, human/wildlife conflicts and strengthening fish and wildlife conservation partnerships.

“It’s deeply humbling for me to lead the Association,” Pugh said. “We as state agencies are indeed fortunate to have this organization to represent our interests, to foster communications and good relationships, and to provide a forum for our continued conservation success together.”

The Washington, D.C.-based AFWA is the collective voice of North America’s fish and wildlife agencies at every level of government. The association provides its member agencies and their senior staff with coordination services that range from migratory birds, fish habitat, and invasive species, to conservation education, leadership development, and international relations.

The association represents its state agency members on Capitol Hill and before the administration on key conservation and management policies, and works to ensure that all fish and wildlife entities work collaboratively on the most important issues.

Pugh holds a masters degree in public administration from Auburn University in Montgomery, and a bachelor’s from the University of South Alabama. He’s an outdoors enthusiast and avid hunter and angler.

Pugh will be president of the AFWA through September 2008.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Parks, State Lands, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR, visit www.outdooralabama

.com.