Brett Ackerman, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Southeast Region Manager since 2019, is leaving the agency after a 22-year career to accept an appointment by Governor Jared Polis to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

“Brett leaves CPW after making a big impact on the agency,” said CPW Acting Director Heather Dugan. “From 2005 to 2014, he was the primary author of many parks and wildlife laws as the agency’s Regulations Manager. 

“Then his impact became even greater when he joined the Southeast Region as Deputy Regional Manager. Finally, in 2019, he became Region Manager and joined CPW’s executive leadership team where we all benefited from his depth of experience. We will miss his steadiness and his calm, clear voice.”

In the Southeast Region, Ackerman managed the regional land use, energy, water, education, volunteer, and engineering programs as well as a multimillion-dollar annual budget. He was deeply involved in securing water rights, including at John Martin Reservoir State Park, and guided the opening of Fishers Peak State Park in Trinidad.

Ackerman is a commissioned wildlife officer who started his career in 2000 as a district wildlife manager patrolling the Rifle area for the former Colorado Division of Wildlife.

Previously, he worked for a private environmental engineering firm and for the National Park Service following his graduation from Brigham Young University in Utah.

While in Rifle, Ackerman served as an adjunct professor at Colorado Mountain College teaching Spanish-language courses (GED Preparation and English as a Second Language). While serving as regulations manager in Denver, Ackerman attended the University of Colorado, earning a Master of Public Administration degree with a concentration in environmental policy, management, and law.

“I am proud of the work we all do at CPW, and I know just how hard our staff works in service to the citizens of this state,” Ackerman said. “I leave comforted by the knowledge our wildlife and natural resources are under the protection of exceptionally professional and dedicated public servants. Working for CPW on behalf of the people of this state and its visitors has been one of the great honors of my life.”