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Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey is the only Department of Defense installation in the country that鈥檚 home to all six branches of the armed forces.
It鈥檚 also one of the few that鈥檚 home to a branch of the bet365下载ios.
Since 2018, federal wildlife officer Terrance Butler has been stationed at the installation as part of the bet365下载ios-U.S. Air Force Conservation Law Enforcement Partnership Program. The unique collaboration was created in 2017 as part of the reauthorization of the Sikes Act, which requires DoD installations to develop natural resource management plans in coordination with state and federal conservation agencies.
The Conservation Law Enforcement Partnership responded to a need for expertise in natural and cultural resource protection on installations, like Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, that have significant resources and recreational opportunities. Encompassing 42,000 acres in two counties in the New Jersey pine barrens, the installation covers an area the size of Cape Cod National Seashore. Last year, 11,000 people sought permits for fishing, hunting, and wood collection on its grounds.
But Butler does more than fill the conservation law enforcement niche.
鈥淚鈥檓 a force multiplier,鈥 he explained.
In addition to supporting resource protection needs, safety, and emergency response at the installation and nearby National Wildlife Refuges, Butler plays a role in community outreach and education.
鈥淚 do outreach events at schools or for special events, and assist the staff at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge with outreach in Philadelphia when they request it,鈥 Butler said.
He also steps up to help where needed as part of the broader team at the installation.
When the base welcomed 14,000 Afghan refugees in 2021, Butler was instrumental in suspending hunting in areas adjacent to the quarters where the guests were staying. But he went beyond his regular duties to help conduct safety checks in the housing before they arrived.
鈥淚 took off the law-enforcement cape and said: Whatever you need, I can help out.鈥
Butler鈥檚 dedication to his work and to the partnership earned him the Natural Resources Conservation Management Award for enforcement from the National Military Fish and Wildlife Association this year.
But even when receiving recognition, he鈥檚 focused on the partnership. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e only as good as your support,鈥 Butler said. 鈥淚 consider this a group accolade.鈥
Road less traveled
Throughout his childhood in north Florida, Butler was immersed in nature. He went fishing and hunting with his dad, took part in 4H, Boy Scouts, and Future Farmers of America, and swam in spring-fed pools and the St. Johns River.
In fact, his first encounter with a conservation officer took place while swimming in the river when he was 13. 鈥淲e thought we were in trouble for swimming too close to manatees, but he just wanted to educate us about water moccasins,鈥 Butler said.
That positive early interaction may have planted a seed, but it didn鈥檛 germinate for years. 鈥淚 took a road less traveled to my career in conservation,鈥 he said.
In part because he started on a road that few get to tread. After four years playing Division 1 college football for the University of Louisville Cardinals, Butler played a season on the practice squad for the Detroit Lions. He then transitioned into coaching, earning a master鈥檚 from the University of Arkansas and landing a job with the Houston Texans.
鈥淏ut once I reached that level, I realized it wasn鈥檛 for me,鈥 he said. 鈥淚n all my free time, I would go out hunting and fishing.鈥
He started looking for openings with the bet365下载ios, but the field was highly competitive, so he took an alternative path to the government through the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Combined with his coaching background, he said his experience working in prisons honed the outreach skills he uses regularly in his work as a conservation law enforcement officer today.
鈥淲orking in the prison system really taught me how to talk to people on a variety of different levels,鈥 Butler said.
After three years in the Bureau, he applied to the Service again, and was among the first six officers hired for the new Conservation Law Enforcement Partnership.
Leading by example
As part of the first cohort, Butler was driven to help make the fledgling program a success.
"It meant a lot to have the opportunity as a new employee to be entrusted with this partnership,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t was challenging at times, but we kept our sights on the big-picture reason it was put in place.鈥
Just a few years in, their dedication is already paying off. 鈥淲e鈥檙e to the point where it鈥檚 expanding 鈥 more branches are reaching out for assistance,鈥 Butler said.
There are now 11 conservation law enforcement officers stationed at seven installations.
For Butler, the real measure of success is the strength of the relationships underpinning the partnerships, and he said a regional refuge law enforcement meeting in March 2022 that leadership from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst attended was a significant milestone.
鈥淚t was so important to get everyone together in the same room to share what we do and talk about our common goals,鈥 Butler said.
In a presentation he gives about the program, Butler emphasizes that ultimately, a partnership reflects the commitment each individual brings to the table:
鈥淪tart with you...Your small difference is what makes the partnership better."
Butler is leading by example.
