The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has named a woman as its top game warden for the first time in the agency’s 79-year history.
Col. Rachel Zechenelly, a Pearl River native and longtime wildlife cop, will take over the agency’s enforcement division this summer, Wildlife and Fisheries announced on Thursday.
The 24-year Wildlife and Fisheries veteran is currently the enforcement division’s second-in-command, serving under Col. Chad Hebert, who plans to retire this summer.
Col. Rachel Zechenelly
Zechenelly will oversee a staff of about 260 people, including enforcement agents and support staff. The division enforces hunting, fishing and shellfish harvesting rules and boating safety laws, conducts search and rescue operations, and investigates boating and hunting accidents.
“We’re in a transformative period for everybody, not just women or minorities,” Zechenelly said of her appointment as the first female to helm the division. “We’re all in moment of change and seeing opportunities we didn’t see before.”
Zechenelly graduated from Nicholls State University, where she played on the basketball team, and Wildlife and Fisheries’ enforcement academy. She started working for Wildlife and Fisheries in 1999, first as a field agent in the southeast region, and was promoted to become the agency’s boating education coordinator.
She also served as the state’s boating law administrator and helped write several changes to boating safety laws.
In recent years, Zechenelly managed the enforcement division’s budget and led training, recruiting and emergency services programs.
Zechenelly credits her years playing basketball for the “team thinking” mindset and self-discipline that allowed her to move up the ranks at Wildlife and Fisheries.
“When opportunities came up, I was able to be successful in promoting because I kept my head down and did my work,” she said.
Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Rob Shadoin expressed his “utmost confidence” in Zechenelly.
“She has proven herself with her vast experience and successful leadership in many roles in enforcement,” he said.
An agency spokesperson said Hebert’s retirement and Zechenelly’s promotion are unrelated to the recent resignation of Shadoin’s predecessor, Jack Montoucet. Montoucet abruptly quit this month after he was implicated in a federal bribery investigation.
Zechenelly has earned agency awards for service during Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Harvey, Irma and Ida, and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil disaster.
In 2005, Glamour Magazine named her one of its “Women of the Year” in recognition of her search and rescue efforts.
Hebert, who worked for Wildlife and Fisheries for 30 years, plans to retire in June.
Zechenelly thanked Hebert for his mentorship. She hopes to emulate the leadership he displayed, especially during recent hurricanes and floods.
“Col. Hebert’s leadership has been vital, especially during several life-saving rescues in the aftermath of major weather events in the state,” she said.
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