DNR Announces CPW Leadership Transition — Acting Director Appointed

(Denver) – Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources announced today that Jeff Davis has stepped down as Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director and will be moving to the Department of Natural Resources Executive Director’s Office as a Senior Policy Advisor for Strategic Priorities. Major General Laura Clellan, Retired Adjutant General and Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, has been named as an Acting Director and the formal search for Director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife will begin soon. Major General Laura Clellan will begin at DNR on December 1, 2025.

“We thank Jeff for his leadership with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and are grateful that he will continue to serve the state of Colorado. I’m also grateful to have Major General Clellan step in as Acting Director while we work with and support the Commission in searching for a new director to lead this critical agency. Colorado Parks and Wildlife helps steward Colorado’s incredible public lands and ensures that Coloradans can enjoy them, while managing the wildlife that call our state home. We are excited for this next chapter at CPW,” said Governor Jared Polis.

“Jeff Davis came to Colorado Parks and Wildlife during a period of uncertainty and change with a number of significant wildlife and recreation issues landing at his feet almost immediately. He transitions leaving a Division which is in a much better place internally as well as a notable record of achievement and progress in areas of building a stronger culture, wildlife management, and stakeholder involvement and engagement,” said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources. “I greatly appreciate Jeff’s leadership, humor and integrity during his time as Director and look forward to his continuing contributions at the Department of Natural Resources. I also appreciate Retired U.S. Army Major General Laura Clellan agreeing to serve as Acting Director while we move forward on a hiring process.”

Major General Laura Clellan comes to CPW with extensive management, organization, and military experience. In her civilian life she was Chief for Leadership and Employee Development in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Lakewood and worked for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. For the State of Colorado, she served as Adjutant General and Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs before retiring in October 2025. Major General Clellan has more than three decades of decorated military service and multiple overseas deployments.

“I was honored to work with an amazing team and set of individuals at Colorado Parks and Wildlife,” said Jeff Davis. “I look forward to focusing on DNR strategic priorities including strategies to increase biodiversity and continuing my service to the people, wildlife and environment of Colorado.”

“I appreciate Director Gibbs’ and the Governor’s confidence to take this Acting role at Colorado Parks and Wildlife, our nation’s leading wildlife agency,” said Major General Clellan. “Our wildlife, environment and Colorado’s outdoor legacy have been part of my values and ones I drew upon during my time at US Fish and Wildlife Service. Going forward, my goal will be to keep CPW’s important wildlife, conservation, hunting and angling, and recreation initiatives moving forward until a CPW Director is hired.”