REFUGE MANAGER OF THE YEAR: Rebekah P. Martin

Rebekah P. Martin, Refuge Manager of the Coastal North Carolina National Wildlife Refuge Complex in North Carolina, was named the 2023 Paul Kroegel - Refuge Manager of the Year. This award recognizes outstanding accomplishments by a refuge manager in the protection and management of our national wildlife refuges. The award is given each year in honor of Paul Kroegel, the first manager of the first refuge established in 1903 at Pelican Island, Florida. His dedication and effectiveness set a high standard for those who have followed.

Read more >>

Refuge Employee Of the year: Brad Pendley

Wildlife Biologist Brad Pendley, for his years of service at the Mingo National Wildlife Refuge in Missouri, was named the country’s outstanding 2023 Refuge Employee of the Year. This award recognizes the exceptional work of the men and women employed by the National Wildlife Refuge System and is awarded to a current refuge employee whose accomplishments are judged to be the most outstanding of the candidates nominated.

Read More >>

2023 Wildlife Refuge Awards Event Recap

2023 Recipients

Watch the event >>

• Paul Kroegel Award- Refuge Manager of the Year: Rebekah P. Martin, Coastal North Carolina National Wildlife Refuge Complex, North Carolina

• Refuge Employee of the Year: Brad Pendley, Wildlife Biologist, Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, Missouri

• Refuge Volunteers of the Year: Mark Ackerman & Joyce Atkinson; Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge, Colorado; Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Nevada; and Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon

• Molly Krival- Refuge Friends Group of the Year: Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, Ohio

2022 Recipients

Watch the event >>

• Paul Kroegel Award - Refuge Manager of the Year: Michael Johnson, Clarks River and Green River National Wildlife Refuges, Kentucky

• Refuge Employee of the Year: Federal Wildlife Officer Robert Peloquin, Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Nevada

• Volunteer of the Year: Rodney “Rod” Colvin, Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge and Ash Meadows Fish Conservation Facility, Nevada

• Molly Krival Award - Refuge Friends Group of the Year: Friends of Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge, Southern California

• Refuge Advocate of the Year: David Raskin, for his work with Alaska’s National Wildlife Refuges

2021 Recipients

Watch the event >>

• Paul Kroegel Award - Refuge Manager of the Year: Steve Berendzen, Refuge Manager, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska

• Refuge Employee of the Year: Natalie Fath, Visitor’s Center Manager and Volunteer Coordinator, National Elk Refuge, Wyoming

• Volunteer of the Year: Mary & Kevin Weiler, Volunteers, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida

• Molly Krival Award - Refuge Friends Group of the Year: Friends of St. Marks Wildlife Refuge, Florida

• Refuge Advocate of the Year: Jose Witt & Shaaron Netherton, for their Work at Desert National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada

2020 Recipients

Watch the event >>

• Paul Krogel Award - Refuge Manager of the Year: Greg Austin, Refuge Manager, Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex, California

• Refuge Employee of the Year: Victor “Vic” Doig, Fire Management Officer, Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges, Florida

• Volunteer of the Year: Jan Crocker, Volunteer, Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, Massachusetts

• Molly Krival Award - Refuge Friends Group of the Year: The Friends of Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, Iowa

2019 Recipients

• Refuge Manager of the Year: Jackie Ferrier, Refuge Manager, Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Washington,

• Refuge Employee of the Year: Eric S. Johnson, Administrative Forester, Central Arkansas National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Arkansas

• Volunteer of the Year: Harold Fairfield II, Volunteer, Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada

• Friends Group of the Year: Friends of Tennessee NWR, Tennessee

• Refuge Advocate Award: Allen Williams, For His Work at Santa Ana NWR and the Lower Rio Grande Valley national wildlife refuges, Texas

2018 Recipients

• Refuge Manager of the Year: Andy Loranger, Refuge Manager Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska

• Refuge Employee of the Year: Victoria Touchstone, Refuge Planner, San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex, California

• Volunteer of the Year: Claire Goad, Volunteer at Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge, New York

• Friends Group of the Year: The Friends of Necedah NWR in Wisconsin

• Refuge Advocate Award: Celeste De Palma, For Her Work at Arthur R. Loxahatchee NWR

2017 Recipients

• Refuge Manager of the Year: Kevin Godsea, Refuge Manager Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, Florida

• Refuge Employee of the Year: Dale Pittman, Regional Heavy Equipment Coordinator for Region 3 of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Illinois River National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Illinois

• Volunteer of the Year: Richard Esker, Volunteer at Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge, West Virginia

• Friends Group of the Year: The Friends of Trempealeau NWR in Wisconsin

2016 Recipients

• Refuge Manager of the Year: Dr. Keith Weaver, project leader at Central Arkansas National Wildlife Refuge Complex in Arkansas 

• Refuge Employee of the Year: Douglas M. Head II, assistant zone biologist at Texas Chenier Plain Refuges Complex, Texas Mid-Coast Refuge Complex, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex

• Volunteer of the Year: Ann Humphrey, Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, Pacific Islands

• Friends Group of the Year: The Friends of Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota

2015 Recipients

• Refuge Manager of the Year: Tom Kerr, refuge manager, St. Croix Wetland Management District and Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin

• Refuge Employee of the Year: John Vradenburg, supervisory biologist, Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico

• Volunteer of the Year: Wiley ‘Dub’ Lyon, Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge in Texas

• Friends Group of the Year: Friends of Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico

2014 Recipients

• Refuge Manager of the Year: Andy Yuen, San Diego National Wildlife Refuges Complex, California

• Refuge Employee of the Year: Kenneth McCain, Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge and Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge, FL

• Volunteer of the Year: Bob and Sharon Waldrop, Southeast Louisiana Refuges Complex

• Friends Group of the Year: Friends of Tualatin River Refuge, OR

2013 Recipients

• Refuge Manager of the Year: Andy French, Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, Stewart B. McKinney NWR and John Hay NWR

• Refuge Employee of the Year: Jackie Jacobson, Audubon NWR, ND

• Volunteer of the Year: Bob Ebeling, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, UT

• Friends Group of the Year: Friends of the Maga Ta-Hophi Waterfowl Production Area, SD

2012 Recipients

• Refuge Manager of the Year: Charlie Pelizza, Pelican Island NWRC, FL

• Refuge Employee of the Year: Kathleen O’Brien, Rachel Carson NWR, ME

• Volunteer of the Year: David Govatski, Silvio O Conte NF&WR, MA

• Friends Group of the Year: Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society, Alligator River and Pea Island NWRs, NC

2011 Recipients

• Refuge Manager of the Year: Kenneth Litzenberger of Southeast Louisiana NWRC, LA

• Refuge Employee of the Year: Dave Mauser of Klamath Basin NWRC, CA

• Volunteer of the Year: Denis Mudderman of Tamarac NWR, MN

• Friends Group of the Year: Friends of Chassahowitzka NWRC, FL

2010 Recipients

• Refuge Manager of the Year: Kevin Foerster of Sacramento NWRC, CA

• Refuge Employee of the Year: Vernon Byrd of Alaska Maritime NWR, AK

• Volunteer of the Year: Zeeger de Wilde of Chesapeake Marshlands NWRC, MD & VA

• Friends Group of the Year: Friends of Alaska NWRs, AK

2009 Recipients

• Refuge Manager of the Year: Greg Siekaniec of Alaska Maritime NWR, AK

• Refuge Employee of the Year: Baron Horiuchi of Hakalau Forest NWR, HI

• Volunteer of the Year: Marie Springer of Walkill River NWR, NJ

• Friends Group of the Year: Friends of Pool 9, Upper Mississippi River NW&FR – McGregor District, IA

2008 Recipients

• Refuge Manager of the Year: Kevin Brennan of Fergus Falls Wetland Management District, MN

• Refuge Employee of the Year: Clyde Morris of Don Edwards San Francisco Bay NWR, CA

• Volunteer of the Year: John Bertrand of Bosque del Apache NWR, NM

• Friends Group of the Year: Friends of Sherburne NWR, MN

2007 Recipients

• Refuge Manager of the Year: Don Hultman of Upper Mississippi River NF&WR

• Refuge Employee of the Year: Bill Giese of Blackwater NWR, MD

• Volunteer of the Year: Marion Sansing of Noxubee NWRC, MS

• Friends Group of the Year: Friends of San Luis Valley NWR’s, CA

2006 Recipients

• Refuge Manager of the Year: Glenn Carowan of Chesapeake Marsh NWRC, VA and MD

• Refuge Employee of the Year: John Schomaker, Division of Conservation Planning, Great

• Lakes-Big Rivers Region

• Volunteer of the Year: Tim Anderson of Seal Beach NWR, CA

• Friends Group of the Year: Friends of Great Swamp NWR, NJ

2005 Recipients

• Refuge Manager of the Year: Roy W. Lowe of Oregon Coast NWRC, OR

• Refuge Employee of the Year: Laura Brandt of A.R.M. Loxahatche NWR, FL

• Volunteer of the Year: Ervin Davis of National Bison Range, MT

• Friends Group of the Year: Friends of Black Bayou, LA

2004 Recipients

• Refuge Manager of the Year: Michael Bryant of Alligator River NWRC, NC

• Refuge Employee of the Year: John Taylor of Bosque del Apache NWR, NM

• Volunteer of the Year: Ken and Darlene Fiske of “Ding” Darling NWR, FL

• Friends Group of the Year: Chincoteague Natural History Association, VA

2003 Recipients

• Refuge Manager of the Year: Michael Rearden of Yukon Delta NWR, AK

• Refuge Employee of the Year: Anne Blakely of National Elk Refuge, WY

• Volunteer of the Year: Jim Montgomery of Bitter Lake NWR, NM

• Friends Group of the Year: Friends of Blackwater, MD

2002 Recipients

• Refuge Manager of the Year: Ron Bisbee of Texas Mid-Coast NWRs, Texas

• Refuge Employee of the Year: Kristine Askerooth of Tewaukon NWR, North Dakota

• Volunteer of the Year: Melissa Owen of Buenos Aires NWR, Arizona

• Friends Group of the Year: Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society of Alligator River and Pea Island NWRs, North Carolina

2001 Recipients

• Refuge Manager of the Year: Al Trout of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Utah

• Refuge Employee of the Year: David Jamiel of Two Ponds NWR, Colorado

• Volunteer of the Year: Harry Sanders of Don Edwards San Francisco Bay NWR, California

• Friends Group of the Year: Friends of the Upper Mississippi River Refuges, IA, IL, MN, WI

2000 Recipients

• Refuge Manager of the Year: Mark Musaus of A.R.M. Loxahatchee NWR, Florida

• Refuge Employee of the Year: Ron Phernetton of Okefenokee NWR, Georgia

• Volunteers of the Year: Paul and Ann Smith of Chincoteague NWR, Virginia

• Friends Group of the Year: Friends of the Rydell Refuge Association, MN

1999 Recipients

• Refuge Manager of the Year: Dean Rundle of the San Diego Refuge Complex, California

• Refuge Employee of the Year: Matthew Magoffin of San Bernardino NWR, Arizona

• Volunteers of the Year: Bill Milling, Elaine Wilmers, and Harold and Susan Nugent of National Key Deer NWR, Florida

• Friends Group of the Year: “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society of the J.N. “Ding” Darling NWR, Florida

1998 Recipients

• Refuge Manager of the Year: Jay R. Bellinger of Kodiak NWR, Alaska

• Refuge Employee of the Year: Sharon Ware of Monomoy NWR, Massachusetts

• Volunteer of the Year: Molly Krival of J.N. “Ding” Darling NWR, Florida

• Friends Group of the Year: Friends of Minnesota Valley NWR, MN

1997 Recipients

• Refuge Manager of the Year: Louis Hinds of J.N.Ding Darling NWR, Florida

• Refuge Employee of the Year: Jack Jeffrey of Hakalau NWR, Hawaii

• Volunteers of the Year: Judy Dryja of Merritt Island NWR, Florida; and Bill Buchanan of John Heinz NWR, Pennsylvania

1996 Recipients

• Refuge Manager of the Year: Phil Norton of Bosque del Apache NWR, New Mexico

• Refuge Employee of the Year: Thomas V. Stehn of Aransas NWR, Texas

• Volunteers of the Year: Richard “Don” Perry of Pea Island and Alligator River NWRs, North Carolina

1995 Recipients

• Refuge Manager of the Year: John Schroer of Chincoteague NWR, Virginia

• Refuge Employee of the Year: Gary Sullivan of Benton Lake NWR, Montana

• Volunteers of the Year: Karl W. Haller of Hagerman NWR, Texas; and Molly P. Brown of Back Bay NWR, Virginia

1994 Recipients

• Refuge Manager of the Year: Steve Thompson of Laguna Atascosa NWR, Texas

• Volunteer of the Year: Richard D. Van Deman of Nisqually NWR, Washington