Tom Sadler is the Deputy Director of the Marine Fish Conservation Network, a coalition of commercial and recreational fishing associations, regional and national conservation groups, aquaria, and marine science organizations.
Sadler has an extensive history of promoting fisheries conservation through advocacy and communication and works with stakeholders on the waterfront to promote sustaining fish populations, healthy marine ecosystems, and fishing communities.
Prior to joining the Network, Sadler lead the Outdoor Writers Association of America, the oldest and largest association of professional outdoor communicators in the United States. Sadler has also held senior positions with the Trust for Public Land, the Izaak Walton League, the Congressional Sportsmen Foundation, Waste Management, Comsat, and the U.S. Olympic Committee. Sadler started his career in Washington, DC, in 1980 when he joined the office of Senator Warren B. Rudman where he focused on small business policy development.
Sadler has been involved in coalition building and grass roots organizing for much of his professional career. He has been active in creation of the American Wildlife Conservation Partners, FishNet, and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. The American Fly Fishing Trade Association presented him with the Jim Range Conservation Leadership Award. The Virginia Chapter of the American Fisheries Society gave him their Natural Resource Conservationist Award. He is the recipient of the Fly Fishers of Virginia’s Taylor Turner Conservation Award. He is an award-winning journalist with Excellence in Craft awards from the Outdoor Writers Association of America and the Virginia Outdoor Writers Association.
Sadler’s volunteer commitment and leadership reflect his passion for fly-fishing, conservation and journalism. Sadler served on the board and as the chairman of Virginia’s Board of Department of Wildlife Resources. He was recently appointed to the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council. He also currently serves on the board of the John D. Voelker Foundation.
He served as Treasurer of the Outdoor Writers Association of America for three years. He has served on the boards of the American Fly Fishing Trade Association, the Virginia Outdoor Writers Association, the National Fisheries Friends Partnership, Valley Conservation Council, the Virginia Council of Trout Unlimited, the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, the Federation of Fly Fishers, Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing and the Shenandoah Mountain Rescue Group, and on the steering committee of the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture and as the Virginia representative on Trout Unlimited’s National Leadership Council.
Sadler spent 14 years as a public affairs officer in the Unites States Navy Reserve and was honorably discharged at the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of New Hampshire.
He is a lifelong fly fisherman. He guides and teaches for Mossy Creek Fly Fishing in Harrisonburg, Virginia, specializing in the tenkara style of fly-fishing. He lives with his family in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.