Tom Franklin, senior director of science and policy, joined the TRCP in March of 2007. He earned a B.A. in natural resource conservation and wildlife management from the University of Maryland and a M.S. in administrative science from The Johns Hopkins University. He was a wildlife biologist with the Urban Wildlife Research Center from 1973 to 1978 and promoted to Executive Director in 1978.  In 1983, The Wildlife Society employed him as Field Director and in 1991, he was promoted to Wildlife Policy Director.   In June 2005, he joined the Izaak Walton League of America as Conservation Director.  And from 1994 to 2008, Tom was President of The Wildlife Authority, a family owned nature store.

Tom is a Certified Wildlife Biologist.  He has authored many articles for professional and lay 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 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 Advisory Council for 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 farm for fish and wildlife.