CPW Director Steps Down After Turbulent Wolf Reintroduction Fight

By Tracy Ross | The Colorado Sun

The director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, who ushered in the state’s wolf reintroduction program amid widespread scrutiny over many of his decisions, is stepping down. 

Jeff Davis announced Tuesday he will move to the Colorado Department of Natural Resources executive director’s office as a senior policy advisor for strategic priorities. 

Replacing him as interim director is retired Maj. Gen. Laura Clellan, formerly the executive director of the Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. She will start Dec. 1. 

A statement from Gov. Jared Polis on Tuesday said Clellan comes to CPW “with extensive management, organization and military experience.” 

In her civilian life, Clellan was chief for leadership and employee development in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Lakewood and worked for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. For the state, she served as adjutant general and executive director of the Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs before retiring from that role in October. 

Clellan has more than three decades of decorated military service and multiple overseas deployments. According to reports, she was the first openly LGBTQ woman to hold the role of adjutant general of the Colorado National Guard. 

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