In any organization, from the presidency to the local hardware store, leadership is key. For the Maine Warden Service, which is, for all intents and purposes, a chain-of-command hierarchy not unlike the military, effective and enlightened leadership is critical.

Effective May 13, Maine game wardens have a new leader. He is Warden Col. Joel Wilkinson. The Windsor conservation officer, who has worked his way up in the ranks since becoming a warden in 1992, had been serving as acting major, the second highest ranking state game warden. Interestingly enough, Wilkinson, who had been on the selection committee for naming a new head warden, was not one of the original applicants for the post. Neither, I have been told, were any of the warden lieutenants applicants for the Chief Warden post. Historically, this was somewhat unusual and speaks to the persuasiveness of the morale issues and organizational unrest that has plagued Maine Warden Service.

An independent management review of the Maine Warden Service conducted in 2007 was an eye-opener that begged only one conclusion: the top leadership component of Maine’s most important conservation law enforcement agency was not performing. This would have to include, by definition, the then-Chief Warden Col. Tom Santaguida and his boss, Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Roland Martin.

Some excerpts from the finding of the independent management review:

Overall, people (wardens) say they feel disconnected from Maine Warden Service management…there appears to be several cliques in the Maine Warden Service…procedures may be administered inconsistently and people may be treated differently based on their inclusion in these cliques…people have concerns about expressing a difference of opinion to management..wardens attribute the changes and the problems with implementation to MWS leadership..loss of “team” and feeling cutoff led to increase in bickering, festering of issues and rumor mills…no effective process for communicating up to management…leadership perceived to be inaccessible..managers inconsistent in treatment of people…majority of wardens concerned that promotions may not be based on professional standards.

Taken cumulatively, this management review is more than merely a list of shortcomings to be addressed. Indeed, it is an indictment of near-scandalous proportions: it portrays a dysfunctional organization, an organizational culture in need of drastic overhaul. There is no small irony in the fact that the former Chief Warden was removed from his leadership position by happenstance, a commercial fishing violation. All things considered, his personal misfortune and corresponding “resignation” from the top warden job may prove to have been a lucky break for the Warden Service. In fairness, though, whatever Santaguida’s leadership failures, they must be shared with the commissioner’s office, where the buck stops.

What about the future? For all its internal problems, the Maine Warden Service has a long and proud history. The men and women who comprise its ranks are intelligent, resourceful and dedicated law enforcement people who will work their tails off to protect the fish and wildlife resource and adapt to just about any effective and enlightened leadership style. The key words are “effective and enlightened.”

The newly appointed warden colonel surely knows better than anyone the formidable challenge and daunting management task that lies ahead for him and his organization. Not only must he lead his troops back to higher ground and restore mutual trust, he must accomplish his mission in a climate of shrinking budgets and a public that expects game wardens to be all things to all people.

The good news is that in adversity there is also enormous opportunity for Col. Wilkinson. The only way to go is up. And most of the wardens who report to him have a direct stake in his performance. They want him to succeed.

The author is editor of the Northwoods Sporting Journal. He is also a Maine Guide, co-host of a weekly radio program “Maine Outdoors” heard Sundays at 7 p.m. on The Voice of Maine News-Talk Network (WVOM-FM 103.9, WCME-FM 96.7) and former information officer for the Maine Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. His e-mail address is [email protected].