Jason Batchelder Is New Vermont Fish and Wildlife Commissioner
By Gary Moore
Governor Scott announced two appointments last week that will impact hunting, fishing and the environment. Jason Batchelder will be Commissioner of the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Misty Sinsigalli will be Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation.
Scott said, “Jason has served in state government in a variety of roles and has always been a strong leader and trusted member of my team. With his experience at the Department of Fish and Wildlife, I believe he’ll hit the ground running and serve Vermonters well as commissioner.”
Batchelder should be a great fit for Fish and Wildlife. He was a warden for many years and became the colonel in 2014, serving until he retired in 2022. He knows the issues and the players.
Most recently Batchelder served as Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation for nearly two years which, like Fish and Wildlife and Forest Parks and Recreation, is part of the Agency of Natural Resources.
He replaces interim Commissioner Andrea Shortsleeve. A resident of Elmore, Batchelder enjoys hunting and fishing of all kinds. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard and is a graduate of the University of Southern Maine. He and his wife Megan have three children.
Scott selected Misty Sinsigalli to replace Batchelder as Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation. She joins the department having previously worked as a disaster recovery lead for the water and environmental programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development.
“Misty’s experience at the federal level, as well as her lived experience growing up in Vermont, will be important as we balance conservation with the housing we desperately need in the state,” Scott said.