Game and Fish announces appointments for three leadership positions

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has filled three leadership positions. Angi Bruce will serve as the new deputy director of external operations, the first woman to hold the position in Game and Fish history.

Rick King was selected as the new chief of wildlife and chief game warden, and Rebekah Fitzgerald was selected as the new communications director. All three candidates were promoted from current roles within the department.

“Each of these leaders have demonstrated exceptional performance and stood out as the best in our competitive search,” said Game and Fish Director Brian Nesvik. “I look forward to their continued service to our state’s wildlife and Wyoming’s citizens in their new roles.”

Bruce brings a diverse background to Game and Fish. For the past two years, she has served as supervisor of the Habitat Protection Program, which provides environmental review for development projects around the state that have the potential to impact wildlife and their habitat.

Previously, Bruce worked for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources as their deputy chief of wildlife. She will replace current Deputy Director Scott Smith upon his retirement on April 15.  

“Angi is an incredibly talented and professional leader who is well-suited for this new role,” Nesvik said.

King has served Game and Fish for over 21 years in the wildlife division protecting and managing Wyoming’s wildlife. He has served as a game warden at many duty stations across the state and was promoted in 2011 to the Laramie regional wildlife supervisor.

He replaces Nesvik who was recently appointed as Game and Fish director. King will begin his new role on May 1.

“Rick has a measured and pragmatic approach to dealing with our state’s toughest wildlife challenges,” said Nesvik. “He has a Wyoming style that he applies to relationships and leadership.”

Fitzgerald has worked for Game and Fish as the communications and outreach supervisor for four years, a unit which includes public outreach and mass media, social media, conservation education, hunter education and recruitment and Wyoming Wildlife Magazine. Prior to Game and Fish, she worked for Governor Matt Mead as a policy advisor and then work at a national level advising local and state governments on natural resource issues.

She replaces Renny MacKay who was appointed as a senior policy advisor for Governor Mark Gordon. Her appointment is effective immediately.  

“Rebekah’s expertise and passion for Game and Fish make her the right person at the right time to head up our Communications team,” Nesvik said.