CHEYENNE — The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission was recognized at the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies awards 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 non-profit organizations to conserve wildlife for the use and benefit of the public.
Wyoming Game and Fish Commissioners accept the 2026 Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Commission/Board of the Year Award. From left: WAFWA President Jim Fredericks, Commissioner Kenneth Roberts, Commissioner John Masterson, Commissioner Bill Mai. Not pictured: Commission President Mark Jolovich, Commission Vice President Rusty Bell, Commissioner Ashlee Lundvall, Commissioner Fonzy Haskell
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 Director Angi Bruce said. “Our Commissioners demonstrate their commitment to Game and Fish’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.”
Department personnel also were recipients of significant WAFWA awards.
Wyoming Game and Fish Deputy Chief of Fisheries Dave Zafft was presented with the WAFWA Professional of the Year Award. From left, WAFWA President Jim Fredericks, Dave Zafft.
Dave Zafft, deputy chief of fisheries, won the Professional of the Year Award. Zafft began working for Game and Fish 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.
Wyoming Game and Fish Federal Aid Coordinator Christina Maleesa received the Outstanding WAFWA Contributor of the Year Award. From left, WAFWA President Jim Fredericks, Christina Maleesa.
Christina Maleesa, Game and Fish federal ad 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 Game and Fish since 2014, and has served as the Federal Aid Coordinator for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department since 2023. In addition to her fiscal oversight, she represents the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 6 on the national Federal Aid Working Group. Her commitment to excellence has earned her numerous honors, including the Game and Fish 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 Dave and Christina, 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.”