Governor Kelly has announced that Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Secretary Brad Loveless intends to retire upon the appointment of a new secretary in 2024. Loveless was appointed to the role in January 2019. During Loveless’ tenure, the little Jerusalem Badlands State Park and the Lehigh Portland State Park were established, and Kansas’ Flint Hills Trail was added to the National Trails System. To address recruitment and retention stability, law enforcement-trained staff have also been made part of the Kansas Police and Fire Retirement System. Under his leadership, the Department of Wildlife and Parks opened an additional research facility and successfully stocked three protected species – plains minnows and neosho and fatmucket mussels.
To make the transition as smooth as possible, the Kelly Administration will begin its search for a new secretary in the coming days.
