As expected, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has named deputy director Tim McCoy to be the agency’s next director, succeeding Jim Douglas, who is retiring Nov after 47 years with Game and Parks, the last 9 as director.
The Game and Parks Commission held a nationwide search that included public meetings over 3 months. Three finalists, all internal candidates, interviewed for the job earlier this month and a search committee Monday recommended McCoy.
Commission Chairman Dan Kreitman of Wahoo says McCoy has the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and ability to successfully lead the agency in connecting people to Nebraska’s natural resources and supporting conservation in the state.
McCoy says he’s honored to be selected, calling it “a unique privilege and responsibility to lead the stewardship of Nebraska’s fish, wildlife, and park resources and provide the diverse opportunities for outdoor recreation.
The 53-year old McCoy joined Game and Parks in 2002 as a wildlife district manager in Kearney, was named Wildlife Division administration in 2011 and deputy director a year later.
He grew up in southwest Nebraska on a farm near Arapahoe, where he developed his passion for outdoor pursuit and curiosity about fish, wildlife, and their habitats.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from UNL and both a master’s and PhD in fisheries and wildlife from Missouri.