The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) recently selected Mark Whitney as the new Chief of the Game Management Section. He fills the position that will be left vacant by Bill Fletcher, who retires at the end of October. Whitney previously held the position of Assistant Chief of Game Management.

“Mark’s skills, vision and personal attributes will serve him well in this leadership role for the Game Management Section and for our agency as a whole,” says WRD Director Dan Forster. “I think he will do a tremendous job and look forward to him assuming this position.”

As Game Management Chief, Whitney will direct all Regional Supervisors and Assistant Chiefs in coordinating and directing the statewide wildlife program, develop the statewide Game Management budget, oversee Federal Aid funding, supervise the statewide wildlife management area program and supervise statewide research and survey efforts. In addition, he will supervise both the drafting of hunting and land use regulations and technical advice on wildlife to private, corporate and municipal landowners.

Mark Whitney began working for WRD in 1997 as a Wildlife Biologist. Whitney most recently held the position of Assistant Chief of Game Management. Prior to that, he served as Regional Supervisor for the Game Management Section in Northeast Georgia and was extensively involved with the Private Lands Program, where he served as Program Manager for four years. He has a master’s degree in Forest Resources from the University of Georgia. Whitney lives in Covington with his wife, Shawn.