New Game Wardens Earn Badges, Assigned Throughout Natural State

Eleven game wardens joined the ranks of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Enforcement Division at their official graduation and swearing-in ceremony Sept. 11 at the Antioch Baptist Church in Conway.

The graduating class of wardens began their training May 10 at the H.C. “Red” Morris Training Center east of Mayflower. They received 835 hours of training in self-defense, firearms, first aid and rescue, criminal law and wildlife code enforcement.

“The road to becoming a game warden actually began much earlier than that,” Maj. Brian Aston, AGFC assistant chief of Enforcement over special operations and training, said. “The application process began fall of last year, then interviews and extensive background checks, including in-person talks with community references. From the hundreds of applicants, 16 were chosen to begin school.”

The 11 graduating wardens spent 18 weeks learning and living wildlife law enforcement. They were allowed to go home on weekends, but spent weekdays and weeknights at the center, training at all hours of the day.

Aarron Casey of Pocahontas was chosen as the spokesman for this year’s graduating class.

“The badge we are receiving isn’t just a piece of metal; it is a legacy that [the graduating class] has now earned the privilege to carry forward. To the past and present game wardens here today, thank you for passing the torch. To [the graduating class], the fear of the unknown is real, and our careers are just beginning. I pray that each of you enjoys a long, honorable and successful career in this field. Take pride in what we’ve accomplished, but never forget the sacrifice it took to get you here today.”

Caleb Faulkner of Horseshoe Bend received this year’s Physical Fitness Award for excellence in the mile-and-a-half run, 300-meter run, situps, pushups and bench press.

This year’s Top Gun Award went to Ethan Johnson of Mountain Home, who displayed expert marksmanship in both handgun and long gun training, earning the high mark of 98.44 percent accuracy with firearms.

The Edward H. Armstrong Memorial Excellence Award, named in honor of the first AGFC training instructor at the Mayflower facility and awarded to the cadet who earns the highest overall GPA for all courses taken during the school, went to Miles Hermann of Hot Springs.

Wesley Cornish of Warren earned this year’s Survival Swimming Award, performing the best out of the class at the rigorous regimen game wardens are expected to complete during their training to ensure they are capable of rendering aid to victims of accidents involving boating and water-based activities.

Cornish also received this year’s Joel Campora Memorial Outstanding Achievement Award. This award is named in honor of the late game warden who lost his life in the attempted rescue of two women during a flash flood in 2013. The cadets select the recipient of this award each year for the one among them who displays the honor, pride, professionalism, camaraderie, and a duty of service over self that Campora displayed during his entire career at the AGFC.

Col. Joe Williams, chief of the AGFC’s Enforcement Division, addressed the new wardens after they took their oath of affirmation, led by U.S. Magistrate Judge Joe Volpe.

“Today is a day to celebrate a very hard accomplishment, and not many people get this opportunity,” Williams said. “I ask that you continually remember these men in your prayers, uplift them and encourage them as they enter a very difficult profession.”

Williams briefly commented about the many new experiences to which the wardens will soon be exposed. He reminded them of their importance during times of chaos and crisis, such as maintaining safe environments during busy mornings in Arkansas’s waterfowl hunting areas and working to recover drowning victims to give their families much-needed closure.

“You’re going to be thrust into a variety of situations, and suddenly everyone is going to expect you to have all the answers,” Williams said. “You won’t always have all those answers, but I encourage you to be a lifelong student and a master of your craft … You’ve earned the opportunity to be called an Arkansas game warden, no one gave it to you. I am proud of you; go forward and prosper.”

The 2026 graduating class of game wardens and their county assignments are:

• Daniel Berry of Bowling Green, Kentucky, assigned to Grant County;

• Aarron Casey of Pocahontas, assigned to Crittenden County;

• Wesley Cornish of Warren, assigned to Cleveland County;

• Cole Dawson of Russellville, assigned to Ouachita County;

• Caleb Faulkner of Horseshoe Bend, assigned to Cross County;

• Cody Halpaine of Benton, assigned to Jefferson County;

• Miles Hermann of Hot Springs, assigned to Sevier County;

• Daulton Johnson of Searcy, assigned to Woodruff County;

• Ethan Johnson of Mountain Home, assigned to Cleburne County;

• John Johnston of Monticello, assigned to Drew County; and

• James Newman of Hot Springs, assigned to Garland County.

Images of each warden available for publication by emailing randy.zellers@agfc.ar.gov.

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CUTLINES:

SITTING
Lt. Tracey Blake presented this year’s game warden school graduates to a crowd of family and friends Sept. 11. AGFC photo.

SPEAKER
Col. Joe Williams encouraged the new wardens with advice from his many years in the field. AGFC photo.

OATH
Eleven new game wardens gave their oath of affirmation at Antioch Baptist Church in Conway Sept. 11. AGFC photo.