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TWRA honors officers and staff with awards; two officers receive valor awards for water rescues
Summary
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency presented staff awards, boating-officer recognitions and two valor awards for life-saving water rescues during the Aug. 22 commission meeting.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency recognized employees and volunteers for boating education, part-time boating enforcement and communications work, and presented two valor awards for dramatic water rescues during the Aug. 22, 2025, commission meeting.
Director Maxedon and Colonel (Lieutenant Colonel) Dale Grindstaff presented awards. Hunter Wisecarver was named TWRA's 2024 boating education employee of the year after teaching numerous boating-safety classes, certifying 67 students required by law in 2024, conducting public programs, and contributing to rescue and recovery operations during a hurricane. Chris Weisgarber (described as a longtime part-time boating officer and assistant Morristown police chief) and his son (Officer Hunter Wisecarver) were recognized as part-time boating officer award recipients; the commission highlighted their patrol days, inspections and citations.
Officer John Mark (district assignment cited in transcript as District 21) was recognized as boating officer of the year for 2024; his work included hundreds of boating inspections, field sobriety tests (including in Spanish), outreach events, translation services for Spanish-speaking community members, and assistance across the state.
Valor awards were presented to Wildlife Officer Dustin Moffitt for a swift-water rescue in Sumner County on June 15, 2025, in which he rescued multiple individuals from submerged vehicles and a trapped person clinging to a tree; and to part-time officer Mike Raleigh for a low-head-dam rescue at Rockford Dam on Feb. 26, 2025, where he navigated his vessel in violent current to lash boats and pull two men to safety. Agency officials credited the officers' prompt actions with saving lives.
Chairman Chris Devaney and other commissioners publicly thanked agency staff for safety and outreach work. No policy decisions resulted from the awards presentation; the segment was ceremonial recognition of staff service.
