The National Fish Habitat Board (Board) is following its first Board Meeting of 2025 with the announcement of a new Board Chair. Dr. Tim Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, has been appointed to the seat on the Board held by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (Association), which is designated to Chair the Board per the 2020 America’s Conservation Enhancement Act (ACE Act).  Dr. Schaeffer becomes the sixth Chairman of the Board, following John Cooper (SD), Kelly Hepler (AK/SD), Tom Champeau (FL), Ed Schriever (ID), and Robert Boyles (SC). The appointment of Dr. Schaeffer was put into place following the announced retirement of Robert Boyles as the Director of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources in late 2024.   

Schaeffer, however, is no stranger to the Board, having served as the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (NEAFWA) Representative to the Board since 2023.    

"Thank you to the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies for their confidence in me to serve as the next Chair of the Board. Here in Pennsylvania and across the country, protecting, restoring and enhancing fish habitat is at the heart of ensuring the health of fish populations entrusted to state agencies, especially from the lens of growing the sport of fishing and providing quality angling opportunities for anglers. The work of the National Fish Habitat Partnership is incredibly important and relevant to moving fish habitat conservation forward across the U.S., including Pennsylvania,” said Tim Schaeffer, new Chairman of the National Fish Habitat Board. “I look forward to being a part of the next chapter for the Program.” 

“Tim Schaeffer’s experience speaks for itself, and his experience as Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission makes him the perfect person for this job,” said Judy Camuso, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.  “The Association is looking forward to Tim’s continued excellence in serving on the Board and leading the Partnership in advancing their mission.”

As Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC), Tim Schaeffer is the agency's chief executive officer as well as chief waterways conservation officer and has charge of all activities under the jurisdiction of the PFBC. Schaeffer is also a member of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board, Pennsylvania Wild Resource Conservation Board and the Steering Committee for the Delaware River Watershed Conservation Collaborative and an ex officio member of the PFBC’s Boating Advisory Board and the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Schaeffer assumed the duties as the PFBC’s Executive Director on November 13, 2018. 

The Board had some additional transitions as well at their January 2025 meeting held in Las Vegas, NV.  With the transition of Schaeffer representing AFWA as Board Chair, NEAFWA has appointed Dave Golden, Assistant Commissioner, New Jersey DEP Fish & Wildlife to serve on the Board. In addition, the Board elected Charlie Wright to represent Alaska Tribes. Wright, is Dene’ Athabascan from Rampart and Tanana, Alaska and replaces Karen Linnell on the Board. Wright will serve until 2028. In addition, the Board voted to have current Board member Stan Allen (Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission) represent Fisheries Commissions on the Board, while current Board member, Chris Moore (Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council) represent Councils on the Board. Under the reauthorization of the ACE Act, both Councils and Commissions are represented on the Board. Moore, previously served in the seat representing Commercial Fishing.  The Board will now solicit for a new member representing Commercial Fishing.  Lastly, Adam Ringia was reappointed to the Board and will serve through February, 2028. Learn more about our Board members, HERE.