Washington D.C. (September 28, 2026)- The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) recognized two individuals as this year’s winners of the Guy Bradley Award at the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Association in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
The Guy Bradley Award recognizes one state agency and one federal agency wildlife enforcement officer whose dedication and public service to protecting the nation’s natural resources demonstrates outstanding leadership, excellence in implementation, knowledge, and actions that have advanced the cause of wildlife conservation. This year’s recipients are Colonel Brian G. Smith, Law Enforcement Director [Retired] with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and Eric Mark Holmes, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Retired Senior Special Agent.
“The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies is immensely proud to honor this year’s Guy Bradley Award recipients: retired Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Law Enforcement Director Colonel Brian G. Smith and retired U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Senior Special Agent Eric Mark Holmes,” said Ryan Brown, Executive Director at Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and President of the Association. “For over three decades, both leaders have demonstrated extraordinary dedication, leadership, and sacrifice to protect our nation’s natural resources, advance wildlife conservation, and mentor the next generation of conservation officers.”
“Throughout their long and distinguished careers, Colonel Smith and Senior Special Agent Holmes have provided the kind of leadership and professionalism that remains absolutely crucial to the long-term success of state and federal wildlife protection efforts,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. “The advancements they led and the mentorship they provided in their respective agencies will leave a lasting legacy for wildlife conservation in the United States.”
Retired Colonel Brian G. Smith’s 30-year career with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is defined by operational excellence and compassionate mentorship. Renowned for modernizing training programs, leading critical disaster responses, and advancing major legislative initiatives, Smith leaves a legacy of professionalism and integrity that has fundamentally strengthened agency culture, public safety, and wildlife conservation throughout Florida.
Recognized for a distinguished 32-year career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement, retired Senior Special Agent Eric Mark Holmes dedicated his life to wildlife protection. Excelling in complex, high-profile investigations, he demonstrated exceptional leadership and cross-border collaboration. Throughout his tenure, Holmes advanced enforcement techniques, trained a new generation of agents, and built robust interagency partnerships, leaving a legacy of steadfast mentorship that profoundly shaped his agency and the broader conservation community.
The Guy Bradley Award: In 1905, Guy Bradley, a Florida game warden, became the first wildlife law enforcement agent killed while performing his duties to protect the nation’s wildlife. Law enforcement agents like Bradley are essential to virtually every aspect of wildlife conservation, from recovering endangered species to managing waterfowl and big game resources.
In honor of Guy Bradley, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation established a national award in 1988 to recognize individuals for achievements in wildlife law enforcement. The award focuses on activities which directly aid or advance the law enforcement goals and mission of state and federal fish and wildlife agencies. It is an opportunity to recognize those officers who put their life on the line for wildlife during their careers. As of 2024, this award is presented in partnership with the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies represents North America’s fish and wildlife agencies to advance sound, science based management and conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats in the public interest. The Association represents its state agency members on Capitol Hill and before the Administration to advance favorable fish and wildlife conservation policy and funding and works to ensure that all entities work collaboratively on the most important issues. The Association also provides member agencies with coordination services on cross-cutting as well as species-based programs that range from birds, fish habitat and energy development to climate change, wildlife action plans, conservation education, leadership training and international relations. Working together, the Association’s member agencies are ensuring that North American fish and wildlife management has a clear and collective voice.
ASSOCIATION OF FISH & WILDLIFE AGENCIES
