Meet the Plenary Speaker

The Program Committee is proud to introduce our esteemed and impactful plenary speaker for the 2025 chapter meeting!

Randy J. Brown, PhD
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

A Historical Perspective of Some of the Pivotal Actions of the Alaska Chapter of the American Fisheries Society

Plenary Date: March 18, 2025
8:30 AM

Randy Brown is a Fish Biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, where he has dedicated nearly 30 years to fisheries research in interior and northern Alaska. A longtime member of the Alaska Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, he has served as the Chapter Historian since 2002.

Randy’s path to fisheries science was shaped by a deep connection to Alaska’s wilderness. Originally from Santa Fe, he moved to Alaska at 18 and soon embraced a subsistence lifestyle along the Yukon River near the U.S.-Canada border. There, he built cabins, ran a dog team, and fished for salmon, fully immersing himself into the rhythms of the land and water. It was during this time that he persuaded the love of his life, Karen, to join him. Together, they split their time between life in the woods and various remote Alaska communities, where Karen taught school while Randy continued to fish, hunt, and run dogs.

His hands-on experience with Alaska’s fisheries eventually led him to pursue formal education at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where he earned a B.S. in Biology and an M.S. in Fisheries. In recognition of his contributions to the field, UAF awarded him an Honorary Doctorate in 2020.

With a deep-rooted passion for Alaska’s fisheries, history, and culture, Randy brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this year’s plenary session. Drawing on decades of firsthand experience with Alaska’s people, ecosystems, and fisheries management, he will explore key moments in the history of the Alaska Chapter of the American Fisheries Society.