The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has appointed A.G. "Spud" Woodward (IGEL Class V) director of the DNR Coastal Resources Division effective Dec. 1.  The Coastal Resources Division of Georgia DNR manages Georgia’s coastal marshes, beaches, waters and fisheries.

The DNR board adopted the recommendation of Commissioner Chris Clark in approving Woodward as the replacement for Susan Shipman (IGEL Class III), who served as director for seven years and will retire Nov. 30 after 31 years with the DNR.  Clark praised Shipman for Coastal Resources’ progress under her leadership and recommended Woodward to the board.

A 25-year veteran of the department, who lives in Brunswick with his wife, Chris, who is editor of Sport Fishing magazine, Woodward has served as assistant director for Marine Fisheries since 2002. In that position, he supervises the daily operations of a 35-person workforce and administers an annual $3 million budget, the DNR said. He also serves as Georgia’s Administrative Commissioner on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, chairs the Coordinating Council of the Atlantic Coast Cooperative Statistics Program and is a member of the Steering Committee of the Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership.

He also serves on the board of directors of the Golden Isles Kingfish Classic and coordinates the annual Golden Isles Family Fishing Festival. An avid outdoorsman, traveler and writer, Woodward has contributed more than 200 articles to both professional and popular publications.

Woodward received a bachelor’s degree in aquatic biology from Augusta College and a master’s degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from the University of Tennessee. He is a U.S. Coast Guard-licensed vessel captain, a certified peace officer and certified fisheries professional.  His daughter, Sally, is a freshman at Georgia Southern University.