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News Release

Sgt. David Dodson Wins Prestigious Award

International Hunter Education Association Names Dodson Professional of the Year

Richmond, VA — Sergeant David Dodson, statewide Hunter Education coordinator with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF), has been named Professional of the Year by the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA). The award is presented to the full-time employee of a state, province or jurisdiction who has performed an outstanding service to the agency, state, province or jurisdiction in Hunter Education or any facet of hunting.

Dodson was recognized for his contributions to Hunter Education over his 24-year career with VDGIF. He has been a Hunter Education instructor since he was a field officer and has continued to teach Hunter Education despite moving up the ranks to his current administrative position of statewide Hunter Education Coordinator. In 1998, he became a Master Instructor and has taught more than 1,800 students and worked more than 23,000 hours in his Hunter Education efforts.

Innovations he has overseen include implementation of the internet aspect of the Alternative Delivery course, an internet-based class with on-site, hands-on testing, which is now taught in every region of the state. He has worked on the development of a contemporary class manual to keep pace with today's changing demographics and conservation-related activities. Sgt. Dodson has developed a specialized cadre of expert instructors to train Hunter Education instructors on treestand safety.

In addition, Sgt. Dodson promoted public hunting events such as youth rabbit and youth deer hunts. He is active in the Cedar Mountain shooting sports team in Culpeper, where he instructs young people in firearm safety, ethical hunting practices, and hunting laws.

When the Virginia Hunter Education Volunteer Instructors Association was founded in 2007, Sgt. Dodson was instrumental in working with the charter members advising them on legal issues, their mission statement, goals, and objectives.

In 2008, Dodson requested, coordinated and managed the on-site visit of a team of hunter education professionals from the federal, state and private sectors for the purpose of evaluating our program in Virginia. After this review, which included interviews with some of VDGIF's almost 900 volunteer instructors, the agency was provided a very positive report. Under his direction, some of the recommendations of this team are currently being implemented.

Sgt. David Dodson is known to be an officer of unquestionable integrity. He is a police officer as well as an educator who has dedicated his professional life to hunter safety and hunter education. For that reason, the International Hunter Education Association has selected him to be their Professional of the Year.