Kurt Thiede

Kurt Thiede is the Government Affairs Director for the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. In that role he oversees and directs the legislative work of the Association before the U.S. Congress and the public policy work of the Association before the federal Executive Branch agencies.

Prior to joining the Association, Mr. Thiede spent 18 years with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, where he served in positions including: Wildlife Regulation and Policy Specialist, Conservation Stakeholder Liaison, Division Administrator, and Deputy Secretary from 2015 to 2017. Mr. Thiede most recently served as the Regional Administrator for the United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 in Chicago, where he oversaw environmental programs for the six state Great Lakes Region, as well as serving as the Great Lakes National Program Manager. Throughout his 20+ year state and federal conservation career he has promoted collaboration, creative problem-solving, common-sense decision-making, and active stakeholder engagement.

Mr. Thiede has a Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife management and biology from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and in 2016 he received an outstanding alumnus award from their school of natural resources. He is active in the outdoors and enjoys all forms of hunting, fishing, camping, bird watching, photography, and hiking with his wife, and three children. A native of Wisconsin, Kurt and his family now reside in Brunswick, MD.