Twenty Years

After serving in the Army for seven years, 6 months and 21 days I decided to go back to college…for the third time and get a degree. I wasn’t sure what that would look like or what I even wanted to do for a living. However, I knew what I didn’t want to do. One was work in an office... which is ironic… more about that later. And two, like Lloyd Dobler says (Say Anything 1989) I didn’t “want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career… sell anything bought or processed...” you get the point. But I was sure about two things; I was married and now unemployed. 

I went to a local community college and eventually to Texas A&M Corpus. Great school and yes great fishing. And in December 2021 I bought a bachelor’s degree.

I worked as a biologist for Texas A&M very briefly and quickly realized that… that was definitely not my cup of tea.

So, while “surfing” the internet I noticed that Texas Parks and Wildlife Department was taking applications for the position of Game Warden Cadet. That definitely got my attention. Although when I left the Army, I proclaimed that “that was it, I was done wearing a uniform and carrying a gun” or so I thought at the time. So, in October of 2002 I began the process to become a Texas Game Warden. After a physical agility test (pushups, sit-ups and a run), a psychological exam (and yes, I passed the first time) and an interview I was offered a conditional offer of employment as a Game Warden Cadet.

After six-months of sitting in a classroom, shooting on the range and living in a warehouse I graduated from the 49th Texas Game Warden Training Academy. The night before graduation I locked my keys in my issued patrol truck at the hotel. I wasn’t sure what kind of sign this was but nonetheless I graduated in June of 2003 at the Texas State Capitol on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives. Upon taking my oath and getting my badge pinned I was assigned to Galveston County.  

It wasn’t until I got to work with some of the older veteran Game Wardens did I understand what it is to be a Texas Game Warden. When I say veteran Game Wardens, I mean the ones that work, not the ones sitting at coffee shops just talking about how amazing they are or trying to figure out how to fenagle a free hunt somewhere. I wanted to be effective and do the job not be a meme. I found out quickly Law Enforcement is extremely easy…until you actually have to do it. Dealing with certain parts of the public that operates with a sliding scale of values and morals mixed in with a wide range of “common sense” can be eye opening and certainly challenging. Having good mentors and guides through the first couple of months and years is definitely instrumental to your survival both in a real not getting killed way but also in a “not getting fired or charged with a crime way”. I was lucky in this manner and had several competent veteran Game Wardens that certainly made sure I was on the right path or at least let me know when I was on the wrong path. To this day I am so grateful to those Game Wardens that had and still have my best interest at heart. I owe them so much and will never forget what they did for me.

The greatest gift of this job is the work environment and the work. The ability to work in the greatest cathedral of all…mother nature’s handy work…the outdoors, is a great work space. Don’t get me wrong its not always sunshine and rainbows. But ultimately its freedom, its powerful, it’s dangerous and beautiful all wrapped up in one. A comprehension and appreciation of the outdoors in my opinion, is the greatest attraction to this line of work. I have seen sunrises and sunsets in the bays, the oceans, the moon rise and fall countless times, the bioluminescent algae in the Gulf at two in the morning, I have seen whale sharks, dolphins, manta rays busting out of the water, 12-foot Tiger sharks trailing shrimp boats, I have seen deer, Whooping cranes and a thousand other creatures. Most importantly I have seen them as they were intended to live…free. It truly has been an honor and privilege to witness and protect this miracle.

The work is extremely gratifying. I have always aspired to have a life that mattered, that created positive change of some sort of way. I realize that the overall effect of my efforts is relative but no matter how big or small I have always wanted to be involved and participate in a meaningful cause. The ability and most of all the authority to protect something is an awesome privilege and responsibility. It is one thing to talk about action and something totally different to put yourself in harm’s way for a cause or purpose. At the end of the day Game Wardens are outfitted with body armor, issued several firearms and are sworn peace officer of the state Texas. They work far from the bright lights of the city, at times in bodies of water far from shore and ultimately are truly isolated from any remote chance of backup. Everyone they deal with is armed and familiar and comfortable in the outdoor world. But it’s all worth it when you catch the poacher or violator that has no respect for the gift of the outdoors.

I have been honored to have been in the company of some of the bravest men I have ever known. Unfortunately, life is not always fair or righteous and some of these men have given all for this cause. It is their sacrifice and their memory that continues to drive me when I think I have done enough. It is their father’s, mother’s, wives’ and children’s sacrifice and loss that silently and persuasively move me to be the best I can be every day to this cause. To do anything less would be ungrateful and to me immoral.

In 2010, I was promoted to Lieutenant. I felt frustrated and amazed, not in a good way, with some of the “leadership” in our division and thought that I could be a positive influence on certain issues. Thus began my management and leadership journey in Texas Parks and Wildlife Law Enforcement. Since then, I have since been promoted to Captain, and have managed two of the busiest districts in our division. I have supervised and worked alongside of some great Game Wardens and support staff. I have also found myself intimately involved in two federal lawsuits against the Division. I have come to appreciate the hard work and value of the non-sworn members of this LE team. The work in our offices and in our maintenance shops is where the real magic happens. Of course, these clerks, admins and mechanics are mostly underappreciated and definitely under paid. I have had the immense honor of attending the 260th FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Most meaningfully and importantly I have watched and assisted others achieve their goals, grow as professionals and become part of an effective team. I have also watched them as young men and women get married, have kids and deal with all the trappings of this job and their personal life. I have watched and helped these brave men and women where I could be successful in both their personal and professional life… And for me watching them grow and be happy is the most awesome part about my leadership role in this division.

I remember sitting in a college classroom in Corpus over twenty years ago, the professor talking about reality and working as a Biologist. As he went around the room asking several folks sitting in the classroom what they were going to do… I had no doubt what my immediate goals were. As one of the students answered his simple question “what do you plan to do with your degree?” he responded that he was going to “save dolphins”, another answered she wanted to “help marine mammals”. Well, when he got to me, I answered “I’m going to get a job, hopefully buy a house and buy a truck”. I was not very idealistic when it came to the reality of life at 29 and married. I knew that wanting to save the world was not going to pay the bills. Funny thing is, I kind of got to do both. Not by some masterful plan but by accident and some luck. End of the day I do kind of save what I can by being in Conservation Law Enforcement. Sure, I’m not saving the whole world but I am doing what I can trying to protect and save our natural resources right here in this part of Texas. I have put my life and limb at risk to protect and defend what cannot protect itself from poachers and violators. So, all in all I got the house, the truck and somehow got a chance to save a little piece of the world.

Like many of my brother and sister Game Wardens I am proud of what we do day in and day out. Working in austere and remote environments in all hours of the day and night to defend the defenseless. Truth is I’m not in the field most of the time these days, rather tied to my desk trying to make a difference for those I can and yes still trying to save my piece of the world. So, as I pass twenty years of public service of protecting Texas’s natural resources I look back and just smile and thank my lucky stars for luck and the opportunity and gift I was given.

Be safe…