The Shumlin Administration announced an executive shake-up Monday that will see Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs Louis Porter replace outgoing Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife Pat Berry.
Berry is leaving his post in May to work for the Vermont Community Foundation, as vice-president for philanthropy.
Porter was brought on as secretary of civil and military affairs following the 2012 election. Shumlin said in a statement that his “devotion to Vermont’s tradition of hunting and fishing, and to making sure there is continued access to land and water for those that follow that tradition, will serve the Department well."
The statement added that Porter's "experience working with the Legislature and in state government, as well as his background in biology and commercial fishing, prepare him for this important role."
Porter has a zoology degree from the University of Washington, according to an administration press release, and, prior to joining state government, worked as a clean water advocate for the Conservation Law Foundation.
The administration has not named a replacement for Porter.
