David Willms

David Willms is the associate vice president for the National Wildlife Federation, working with a dynamic team of professionals and volunteers to advance our Public Lands Program, NWF Outdoors (hunting/angling advocacy), and Artemis Sportswomen Initiative. Prior to that, he served as a Natural Resource Policy Advisor to Wyoming Governor Matthew H. Mead. Before joining the Governor’s Office, David worked as an attorney with a broad-based natural resources practice both within Wyoming and around the country. Practice involved providing counsel and litigating issues involving the Endangered Species Act, compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, complex water law matters, oil and gas leasing and development, land management practices, and multiple uses on public lands, to name a few.

Prior to that, David served as a senior assistant attorney general for the State of Wyoming. In that capacity, he represented the State Engineer’s Office and Game and Fish Department on numerous matters in courts around the country, administrative bodies in Wyoming, the Wyoming legislature, and Congress. Litigated an interstate water dispute before the United States Supreme Court, and engaged with myriad issues involving species such as wolves, grizzly bears, sage grouse, cutthroat trout, black-tailed prairie dogs, black-footed ferrets, and bald eagles.

David holds a juris doctorate degree and bachelor’s degrees in Wildlife & Fisheries Biology and Management, as well as Environment and Natural Resources. He is passionate about educating the public about natural resources issues, through co-hosting a conservation law and policy podcast called “Your Mountain.”