C. Thomas Bennett

Tom Bennett became Commissioner for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) in October 1993. He is a lifelong hunter, angler, boater and nature lover with almost 30 years of experience in managing Kentucky's natural resources, environmental protection, parks and outdoor recreation. Bennett holds Bachelor and Master's Degrees from Eastern Kentucky University.

In addition to 11 years with KDFWR, Bennett has served as Deputy Secretary of the Governor's Executive Cabinet, Deputy Secretary of the Kentucky Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet, Commissioner of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, and Principal Assistant to the Secretary of Transportation. He worked two years in energy conservation and communications businesses in Louisville, eight years for Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Parks and was Director of Parks and Recreation in Richmond for three years.

Commissioner Bennett previously served as the President of the Southeastern and Mid-western Associations of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. He is past president of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, past chairman of the Executive Committee for IAFWA, and served three years as treasurer for IAFWA. He is the recipient of the Gerald N. Williams Accessibility Award presented by the Kentucky Rehabilitation Association and the Outstanding Service Award as Educator of the Year by the North American Association for Environmental Education.