Becky Gwynn, Longtime Conservation Champion, Wins Virginia Environmental Leadership Award

Becky Gwynn, executive deputy director of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, received a prestigious environmental award on Thursday at the 2026 Environment Virginia Symposium in Lexington for her longtime work in the field, which includes promoting conservation efforts and developing innovative wildlife management solutions throughout the Commonwealth.

The Erchul Environmental Leadership Award recognizes a Virginian who has made significant individual efforts to improve the environment. The Commonwealth’s environmental community nominates candidates, who are judged on their vision, expertise, commitment, integrity, communication skills, accomplishments, and diplomacy.

“Becky has been a major friend to the Chesapeake Bay through her invaluable work on conservation efforts and wildlife preservation over her decades of distinguished service to the Commonwealth,” said Chesapeake Bay Foundation Virginia Executive Director Chris Moore.

“It’s been a privilege to work with her and we at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation congratulate her for receiving this much-deserved award. Becky’s hard work has been instrumental to conserving a wide range of habitats and native species throughout the Commonwealth.”

The award is named for the late VMI professor Capt. Ronald A. Erchul, Ph.D., founder of the Environment Virginia Symposium.

Gwynn was presented with the award at the 2026 symposium, which took place this week at VMI in Lexington. It attracted hundreds of attendees, including from environmental nonprofit and conservation groups, to discuss environmental topics of concern for the Commonwealth.

Gwynn has supported CBF’s work on Libby’s Garden, a special pollinator garden and seed library at our Brock Environmental Center in Virginia Beach, and helped spearhead a massive, first-of-its-kind project to relocate a major seabird colony during construction on the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel.

In her experience at DWR, Gwynn has also been involved in the acquisition of more than 20,000 acres included in DWR’s Wildlife Management Area system.

“Becky Gwynn is a true giant of wildlife conservation in Virginia and our region,” said Ryan Brown, Executive Director of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. “Her lifetime of contributions to our natural resources will leave a legacy for generations to come, and it is gratifying to see her receive this richly deserved recognition.”

Gwynn graduated from William & Mary with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and received a Master of Science degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Science from Virginia Tech.