The Daily Sun-Up Meet Laura Clellan, new director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Mar 2, 2026
Laura Clellan, newly confirmed director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife and former military and Fish and Wildlife leader, shares her path to CPW leadership. She discusses staff buy-in, Colorado's 10-year strategic goals for ecosystems and workforce, plans for wolf restoration and possible translocations, and how science, transparency and hunting-funded conservation guide decision making.
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Unexpected Path To CPW Leadership
- Laura Clellan unexpectedly accepted the CPW director role after serving as acting director following retirement from the Colorado National Guard.
- She connected quickly with staff, enjoyed stakeholder engagement, and decided to stay because she saw opportunities to add operational leadership.
Leadership Trumps Technical Credentials
- Clellan emphasizes leadership skills over specific technical credentials as the key qualification for the director role.
- She cites 35 years of leading complex teams (Air Guard, Army Guard, military police) plus a background in biology and Fish and Wildlife leadership work.
On The Ground Staff Outreach
- Clellan reports active outreach to staff, including visits to Sterling and meetings with technicians and law enforcement officers.
- Staff, stakeholders, and commissioners asked her to remain, citing a need for leadership, purpose, direction, and decisiveness.