The Director's Office provides strategic direction and operational oversight for Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) employees throughout the state, working to turn policies adopted by the state Legislature and the Fish and Wildlife Commission into action.
About the director
Kelly Susewind joined the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) as director in August 2018, after spending 28 years at the Washington Department of Ecology.
A lifelong outdoorsman and longtime resident of Washington, Susewind oversees 1,800 employees throughout the state, tasked with fulfilling WDFW's mission of conserving fish and wildlife and providing sustainable recreational and commercial opportunities.
Susewind grew up in Aberdeen, and graduated from Grays Harbor College with an associate's degree in engineering before receiving his bachelor's degree in geological engineering from Washington State University. After spending several years working in the private sector in Alaska and Seattle, Susewind joined the Department of Ecology in 1990.
Susewind served in numerous roles during his time at Ecology, including as manager of the Water Quality Program and, most recently, as director of administrative services and environmental policy.
His Leadership Team
Learn more about Director Susewind's leadership team.
Director's statements
- Working to create a safe, inclusive culture, September 13, 2021
- On the loss of NWIFC Chairperson Lorraine Loomis, August 12, 2021
- Seattle Times opinion: The struggle to share a shrinking resource — Northwest salmon, March 29, 2021
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion Director’s message, March 9, 2021
- Director's updated response to Governor Inslee on wolf-livestock interaction strategy, July 27, 2020, See Enclosure 1, See Enclosure 2
- Nature is for Everyone Statement, June 17, 2020
- Director's response letter to Governor Inslee's request for changes to the gray wolf recovery program, December 1, 2019
- Director's Statement on Columbia River Basin Salmon Management Policy, March 8, 2019
Videos
In this video below, Director Susewind highlights some of WDFW's progress to help protect endangered Southern Resident killer whales this Orca Action Month. Find more information and opportunities to get involved on our killer whale web page.
Digital Open Houses
- November 4, 2021 (North Puget Sound WA)
- November 2, 2021 (Southwest WA)
- November 17, 2020 (Coastal WA)
- November 13, 2020 (North Puget Sound WA)
- October 28, 2020 (Southwest WA)
- Sept. 28, 2020 (South Central WA)
- December 16, 2019, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
- December, 5, 2019, 6 to 7 p.m. (South Central WA)
- July 17, 2019, 6 to 7 p.m. (Southwest WA)
- July 8, 2019 (Eastern WA)
- June 30, 2019 (North Central WA)
- May 13, 2019