At the January 29 Fisheries and Wildlife Board meeting, officials announced that George N. Peterson, Jr. of Grafton was appointed to serve as the Commissioner of the Department of Fish and Game and that Mary-Lee King of Hudson will serve as Deputy Commissioner. "As an avid outdoorsman and former commercial fisherman, George will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, as well as a unique understanding of the issues most important to sportsmen and commercial fishermen across the Commonwealth," said Matthew Beaton, Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

Peterson served for 20 years in the Massachusetts House of Representatives representing the Ninth Worcester District. Prior to his time on Beacon Hill, George served in municipal government for 10 years in the town of Grafton. In the private sector, George worked as a commercial fisherman based out of Gloucester, MA, and also owned a wholesale and retail seafood business. George is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts – Stockbridge School in Amherst where he earned a degree in Park Management and Arboriculture.

Peterson expressed his thanks for the opportunity, "I am honored to lead the Department of Fish and Game and look forward to upholding the Department's ongoing commitment to the protection of the Commonwealth's wildlife, open space, and outdoors educational programs."

Mary-Lee King served as the Interim Commissioner for the Department of Fish and Game for the past month and before that, served as Legislative Director for the Department. "Having worked for the last six years in the Department, I look forward to continuing to work with the agency's talented and committed staff," said King.

At the same meeting, Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Director Wayne MacCallum announced his retirement effective the end of February 2015. He has been Director for 27 years. MacCallum received his Bachelor's degree in Wildlife Biology from the University of Massachusetts in 1968 and his Master's Degree from Penn State University where he studied the nesting ecology of Black Ducks. MacCallum joined the then Massachusetts Division of Fish & Game as a waterfowl technician. Shortly thereafter, he entered the private sector and over a ten year period progressed from Staff Scientist, to Manager of environmental management services for Woodward Clyde Consultants.

MacCallum returned to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) in 1983 as the Assistant Director of Wildlife and became Director in 1988. MacCallum has served as president of the Northeast Fish and Wildlife Directors Association and the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Wayne MacCallum served as chairman of the Atlantic Flyway Council, the Atlantic Coast Joint Venture, and the Woodcock Task Force. He also served as a member of the North American Wetlands Conservation Council, the Sea Duck Joint Venture, and the International Task Force on Waterfowl Regulations. He has been honored by numerous conservation and sporting groups in Massachusetts and by professional and national conservation organizations such as Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, The Wildlife Society and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.