Brian Nesvik
{{Short description|American conservation officer (born 1969)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Brian Nesvik
| image = Brian R. Nesvik.jpg
| caption = Official portrait, 2016
| office = Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
| status = Nominee
| term_start = TBD
| term_end =
| predecessor = Martha Williams
| successor =
| office1 = Director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department
| term_start1 = March 2019
| term_end1 = September 2024
| predecessor1 = Scott Talbott
| successor1 =
| birth_date = {{birth month and age|1969|11}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party =
| education = University of Wyoming
United States Army War College
| profession =
| allegiance = United States
| branch = United States Army
| serviceyears = 1986–2021
| rank = Brigadier General
| unit = Wyoming Army National Guard
}}
Brian Robert Nesvik (born November 1969){{Cite web|url=https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/471122/Brian_Robert_Nesvik.html|publisher=LegiStorm|title=Brian Nesvik}} is an American conservation officer who is the nominee to serve as Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. He previously served as director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
Early life
Nesvik is from Casper, Wyoming.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/165817326/|newspaper=Casper Star-Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|date=June 30, 2019|page=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/165817748/ B2]|title=Inspired to serve|author=Peterson, Christine}} {{Open access}} While hunting with his father at age 14, he met a game warden and decided he wanted to be one.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/165695776/|newspaper=Casper Star-Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 12, 2011|page=21, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/165695873/ 22]|title=Fighting Crime And Illness|author=Peterson, Christine}} {{Open access}} He attended the University of Wyoming where he received a bachelor's degree and later the United States Army War College.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalguard.mil/portals/31/Features/ngbgomo/bio/3/3320.html|website=NationalGuard.mil|title=Brian R. Nesvik}} He served in the Wyoming Army National Guard for 35 years before retiring in 2021 with the rank of brigadier general, seeing service overseas in Iraq and Kuwait.{{Cite web|url=https://wgfd.wyo.gov/news-events/former-game-and-fish-director-nominated-lead-us-fish-and-wildlife-service|publisher=Government of Wyoming|title=Former Game and Fish Director nominated to lead U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service|author=Fry, Amanda|date=February 14, 2025}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.powelltribune.com/stories/relinquishing-the-reins,144223|newspaper=Powell Tribune|title=Brian Nesvik's retirement leads to new era at Game and Fish|date=October 17, 2024|author=Davis, Mark}} He is married and has three children.
Career
Nesvik joined the Wyoming Game and Fish Department in 1995 as a game warden in Laramie.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thesheridanpress.com/news/local/brian-nesvik-to-retire-from-game-and-fish/article_fcb664d8-f2cc-11ee-9fd5-f34a037d2617.html|newspaper=The Sheridan Press|title=Brian Nesvik to retire from Game and Fish|date=April 8, 2024}} He worked as a warden in Laramie and Pinedale and rose to the position of Cody Regional Wildlife Supervisor in 2011, then was promoted to Chief Game Warden and Wildlife Division Chief in 2011. In February 2019, he was appointed by Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon as director of the Game and Fish Department, assuming office in March.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/jackson-hole-news-and-guide/165821403/|newspaper=Jackson Hole News&Guide|via=Newspapers.com|date=February 27, 2019|page=7|title=Game and Fish chief loves Y'stone country|author=Koshmrl, Mike}} {{Open access}} As director, he "tackled issues such as grizzly management and aquatic invasive species, as well as the ongoing challenges in managing healthy mule deer populations." He retired in September 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2025-02-12/trump-eyes-former-wyoming-game-and-fish-director-nesvik-for-usfws-director|publisher=Wyoming Public Media|title=Trump eyes former Wyoming Game and Fish director Nesvik for USFWS director |author=Tan, Caitlin|date=February 12, 2025}}
In February 2025, President Donald Trump announced Nesvik as his nominee to serve as Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.