Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has appointed its first female as head of its Enforcement Division in the agency’s 79-year history. Rachel Zechenelly will oversee 257 game agents and support staff. Zechenelly says she’s ready to lead as the new Chief of Enforcement.
“I’m just very excited to be a part of something as grand as our enforcement division and it’s just an honor to serve all of these men and women.”
Zechenelly has worked with the agency for over two decades and has received several awards including the LDWF Meritorious Award for Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Harvey, Irma, and Ida, the 2016 Flood, and BP Oil Spill. The Pearl River native says the agency’s main responsibility is protecting commercial fisheries, hunting, and fishing, however…
“During emergencies and natural disasters, we’ve been tasked to rescue people. Ida and Laura, we were the first people there to respond for search and rescue.”
Zechenelly graduated from LDWF Cadet Academy in 1999, where she served as a field agent in the southeast region before being promoted to Headquarter staff in 2005. She was also named the LDWF Agent of the Year for Headquarters Staff in 2008. She believes the leadership from her mentor, Col. Chad Hebert has prepared her for the future.
“I hope to put us a little bit further into the future with our law enforcement but we’re certainly already down that road.”
Zechenelly will succeed Col. Hebert, who was promoted to Colonel in 2020 but has decided to retire.
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