LDWF Enforcement Division Welcomes 23 New Agents at Graduation

Baton Rouge, Aug 26, 2026 -

From left to right: (Bottom Row) Lt. Col. Eddie Skena, Col. Stephen Clark, Jeremy Guidroz, Judah Fields, Preston Gurry, Benjamin Sturdivant, Chance Lewis, Cannon Beaver, Mason Owens, Robert Holmes, Paul Fortmayer, Daniel Bradley, Alexandra Williams, Lt. Suni Nelson and Major Chris Carpenter.

From left to right: (Top Row) Lt. Col. Clay Marques, Brian Rizk, Carson Thibodeaux, Corey Hyatt, Ian Fontenot, Tyler Burkett, Davie Hernandez, Cameron Carrier, Blake Menzina, Justiss Patin, Hunter Hicks, Jared Williams, Gage Naquin and Capt. Mason Spillman.

Today, Aug 26, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Law Enforcement Academy today graduated its 38th class of cadets into the ranks of LDWF Enforcement Division agents at a ceremony in Baton Rouge.

After months of training at the academy, 23 newly commissioned agents are ready to begin serving their community through enforcing hunting, fishing and boating regulations that govern the use of the state's natural resources.

This was LDWF’s second ever Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certified hybrid academy class. The LDWF Enforcement Division conducted the conservation law portion of the training at the beginning of the academy for all the cadets. Then the LDWF Enforcement Division continued with the POST training at the end of the academy for the non-POST certified cadets.

The two POST certified cadets coming into this academy completed their conservation law training on July 2 and were honored today with the other 21 members of their class at today’s graduation.

Keynote speakers at the graduation included Governor Jeff Landry, LDWF Secretary Tyler Bosworth, and LDWF Enforcement Division Col. Stephen Clark.

“The role of a wildlife and fisheries agent carries a tremendous responsibility, and these graduating cadets have shown they are ready to take on that challenge,” said Col. Clark. “These new agents have worked hard to reach this point and have proven themselves during a long and demanding training academy. We are proud to welcome them to this Enforcement Division and look forward to seeing the difference they will make in the field and in the communities they serve.”

The 23 new agents are:

Cannon Beaver, of Cheneyville, assigned to Vernon Parish
Daniel Bradley, of Richmond, Texas, assigned to Bossier Parish
Tyler Burkett, of Denham Springs, assigned to Livingston Parish
Cameron Carrier, of Baton Rouge, assigned to St. John Parish (Prior POST Certified Graduate)
Judah Fields, of New Orleans, assigned to Orleans Parish
Ian Fontenot, Slidell, assigned to St. Bernard Parish
Paul Fortmayer, of Chalmette, assigned to St. Tammany Parish
Jeremy Guidroz, of Port Barre, assigned to St. Tammany Parish
Preston Gurry, of Gambrills, Maryland, assigned to Tangipahoa Parish
Davie Hernandez, of Alexandria, assigned to Vernon Parish (Prior POST Certified Graduate)
Hunter Hicks, of Marksville, assigned to Catahoula Parish
Robert Holmes, of Zachary, assigned to East Feliciana Parish
Corey Hyatt, of Sulphur, assigned to Calcasieu Parish
Chance Lewis, of Springhill, assigned to Caddo Parish
Blake Menzina, of St. Francisville, assigned to West Feliciana Parish
Gage Naquin, of Jeanerette, assigned to St. Mary Parish
Mason Owens, of Monroe, assigned to Ouachita Parish
Justiss Patin, of Slaughter, assigned to West Feliciana Parish
Brian Rizk, of Lafayette, assigned to St. Tammany Parish
Benjamin Sturdivant, of Pineville, assigned to Natchitoches Parish
Carson Thibodeaux, of Ponchatoula, assigned to Tangipahoa Parish
Alexandra Williams, of Angie, assigned to Washington Parish
Jared Williams, of DeRidder, assigned to Beauregard Parish

During the graduation ceremony, Owens was awarded the “John Garlington Physical Fitness” award for scoring the highest on the physical fitness assessment test. Fields received the “Top Shot” award for the best marksman in the class.  Owens also received the “Academic” award for having the highest grades. Patin won the “Immanuel Washington Best Overall” award, which is a cumulative score from the firearms, academic and physical training categories.

The Louisiana Wildlife Agents Association also honored Fields with their “Zachary Funderburk Outstanding Cadet” award.

At the academy, cadets train to enforce the state's recreational boating laws, the state and federal wildlife and fisheries laws, and the equipment they will be using daily while on patrol. The academy also covers general law enforcement training and POST certification requirements.

The graduating agents fill vacancies in LDWF’s Enforcement Division and will be assigned to a field-training officer for their first six months of duty. Now part of the agency’s commissioned officer staff, the agents will join the ranks of those patrolling land and water to primarily detect game, fish and boating law violations. These duties require travel into Louisiana's forests, swamps, fields, streams, bayous, lakes, marshlands, the Gulf of America and on the state’s roadways.