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Dan grew up in Dacula, Georgia, knowing exactly what he wanted to do in life. When he was in the ninth grade a friend made a name plate for him that said "Dan Forster, Wildlife Biologist." Wildlife has always been a passion for Dan. He grew up hunting and fishing and enjoying wildlife, and is an avid hunter and fisherman today. His wildlife passion led to a B.S. and M.S. degrees in wildlife biology from the University of Georgia.

After graduating from UGA, he began his first job in 1990 with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division. He started as a Wildlife Biologist in middle Georgia and later moved to coastal Georgia. In 1996 he moved into the WRD headquarters office as Assistant Chief of Game Management. He held that position from 1996 to 2003, then moved into the Assistant Director position and assumed the Director’s job in 2004.

As the Director, Dan's responsibility cuts a wide swath. He provides leadership and policy direction for the Division, which is responsible for the enforcement of laws and regulations pertaining to game and nongame animals, threatened and endangered plants and animals, exotic animals, boating safety, litter and waste control, and hunter safety; managing approximately one million acres of land for hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, public education and other outdoor recreational activities; managing and protecting freshwater aquatic habitat to improve the quality of fishing; managing and protecting the state's nongame and endangered animal and plant species; and certifying private land put into permanent conservation. The Division's assets include over 80 wildlife management areas, 20 natural areas, 9 public fishing areas, 6 regional education centers and 9 fish hatcheries and encompasses a work force of over 600 associates distributed across the state. Dan also must insure that the Division's $60 million dollar budget is managed appropriately and act as a direct line of communication for the Commissioner, the Board of Natural Resources, State Legislators and Georgia's Congressional delegation.

In addition to his state responsibilities, Dan is actively involved at the national level. He is currently the President of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, serves on the Executive Committee of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), Chairs the Northern Bobwhite Conservation Initiative and serves as Vice Chair of the Agriculture Committee of the AFWA. The Ag Committee of AFWA has been very active the last couple of years working with Congress to reauthorize the Farm Bill. That committee serves as an advisor to Congress on wildlife management issues. The conservation provisions are extremely important to wildlife conservation and Dan has been a leader in trying to get the maximum benefits for wildlife in the Farm Bill.

Dan is very much a family man and has been married to Jennifer for 16 years. They have two children: Trent, age 3 and Lanier, age 11. Both of them tag along on a regular basis with Dan on his hunting and fishing ventures. He is also a very devout Christian and active in his church. He serves as Chairman of the Administrative Council of the Social Circle United Methodist Church. He started a sportsmen group in the church called the "Nimrods." They actively do mission work in remote places in Alaska and other areas.

All Georgians should be pleased to have someone with Dan's qualifications and character in the position of Director of WRD and all sportsmen should be ecstatic. Since Dan hunts and fishes at every opportunity, he can easily relate to other sportsmen. He "walks the walk" of Georgia sportsmen. We would be hard pressed to find anyone any better for this position than Dan Forster.