Tom Franklin

Tom Franklin is senior director of science and policy with the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. He began his career as a wildlife biologist with the Urban Wildlife Research Center and later became Executive Director.  He served as Field Director and Policy Director of The Wildlife Society for 22 years.  He also has been Conservation Director for the Izaak Walton League of America and was the owner of a wildlife-oriented retail business for 14 years.

Tom’s education includes a B.S. in natural resource conservation and wildlife management from the University of Maryland and a M.S. in administrative science from The Johns Hopkins University.

Tom is a Certified Wildlife Biologist. He has authored articles for professional and popular outlets concerning wildlife management, association leadership and natural resource policy. He has received the Daniel L. Leedy Urban Wildlife Conservation Award; Professional of the Year award from the Maryland/Delaware Chapter of The Wildlife Society; and The Wildlife Society’s President’s Award and Special Recognition Service Award. He served as President of The Wildlife Society from 2008-'09 and is a Wildlife Society Fellow. He also was appointed to the US Environmental Protection Agency Farm and Ranchland Advisory Committee and currently serves on the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council advising the Secretaries of the US Departments of Agriculture and Interior.

He is on the Executive Committee of the American Wildlife Conservation Partners; Steering Committee of the Teaming With Wildlife Coalition; is on the Board of Directors for the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, and chairs the Wildlife Diversity Advisory Committee for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Tom is an avid outdoorsman and especially enjoys fishing, hunting, bird dogs and managing the family farms for fish and wildlife.