Congressional, federal agency and association veteran Scott Gudes joins the American Sportfishing Association
The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is pleased to announce that Scott Gudes, an acknowledged bipartisan Government Affairs expert and life-long, avid angler and boater, has joined the ASA staff as Vice President, Government Affairs. His tenure begins on March 2, 2015.
Gudes brings 30 years of experience in the federal executive and legislative branches. Immediately prior to joining ASA, Gudes served as Vice President, Legislative Affairs for Space Systems and Missile Defense for Lockheed Martin. Prior to that he served as Vice President for Government Relations, with responsibility for legislative, regulatory, state/local and political action committee issues, for the National Marine Manufacturers Association, the trade association representing 1,700 recreational boat manufacturing companies.
Gudes’ legislative branch experience includes 16 years with the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives as a committee professional staff member. He earned a reputation for bipartisanship having served both Democratic and Republican chairmen. Gudes’ executive branch experience includes serving as the Deputy Under Secretary, the chief operating officer and senior career officer, for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). From January to December 2001 he served concurrently as the Acting NOAA Administrator/Under Secretary and in 1999 as the CFO/Assistant Secretary of Administration for the U.S. Department of Commerce. ‘
In 2003, in recognition of leadership and achievements at NOAA, he received the Presidential “Distinguished Rank” Senior Executive Service Award.
“Scott’s Congressional, federal agency and association experience is an immense asset for ASA and for the recreational fishing industry,” said ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman. “The depth and breadth of his experience will help ASA do an even better job of serving our members as our industry adapts to the economic and environmental changes that are impacting recreational fishing. Having worked with Scott for many years on numerous issues that impact fisheries conservation; his knowledge of and passion for our sport is second to none and we will be the better for it.”
“I’ve been a lifelong angler who started fishing with my Dad on the piers and beaches in Southern California,” said Gudes. “Whether fishing offshore, inshore, on a lake or wading in a stream, fishing is very important to me and holds a special place in my heart.”
Gudes further said, “I look forward to being part of ASA’s talented team in advocating with Congress and government for anglers, the industry, conservation and access to fishing. I look forward to this challenge and will put my knowledge and skills into seeing our sport grow, the industry prosper and working to ensure that fishing opportunities remain available for the next generation of anglers.”
The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry’s trade association committed to representing the interests of the entire sportfishing community. We give the industry a unified voice, speaking out on behalf of sportfishing and boating industries, state and federal natural resource agencies, conservation organizations, angler advocacy groups and outdoor journalists when emerging laws and policies could significantly affect sportfishing business or sportfishing itself. ASA invests in long-term ventures to ensure the industry will remain strong and prosperous, as well as safeguard and promote the enduring social, economic and conservation values of sportfishing in America. ASA also gives America’s 60 million anglers a voice in policy decisions that affect their ability to sustainably fish on our nation’s waterways through KeepAmericaFishing™, our angler advocacy campaign. America’s anglers generate over $48 billion in retail sales with a $115 billion impact on the nation’s economy creating employment for more than 828,000 people.
By: Mary Jane Williamson, Dir Communications
