(Juneau) — Acting Commissioner Sam Cotten announced the appointment of Charles O. Swanton as Deputy Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Swanton has been Director of the Division of Sport Fish since 2007. Governor Walker has also nominated Mr. Swanton as the State of Alaska’s Commissioner for the Pacific Salmon Commission, which is a presidential appointment.

“Charlie’s professional and educational background, as well as his long history with the department, makes him uniquely qualified for these positions,” Acting Commissioner Cotten said. “He has dedicated nearly his entire 33 year career to the research and management of Alaska’s fisheries and is highly respected throughout the state. I am very pleased to have Charlie serving as our department’s lead on Pacific salmon issues and representing Alaska in other issues of significant importance to the management of our valuable fisheries resources.”

Swanton’s public service career began as a Fisheries Technician for the Division of Commercial Fisheries in 1981. Since 1981, Swanton has held key research and management positions in geographic areas that span the state.

In 2010, Swanton completed his residency as a Fellow of the highly selective National Conservation Leadership Institute, a world-class leadership development program. Swanton also received the 2012 University of Alaska Fairbanks Alumni Achievement Award for Business and Professional Excellence.

Swanton earned Bachelor of Science degrees in biology in 1983 and in fisheries science in 1984 from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and a Master of Science degree in fisheries with an emphasis in salmon population dynamics and statistics from the University of Washington, Fisheries Research Institute.

Swanton has been an Alaska resident for more than 34 years. He and his wife, Deborah, have two sons, and they reside in Juneau.

Deputy Director Thomas Brookover has been named as Acting Director of Sport Fish Division.

  charles swanton, deputy commissioner