Adam Putnam, a one-time Florida Republican wunderkind whose rapid political ascent got derailed by a 2018 primary loss for governor, is set to lead Ducks Unlimited, one of the largest environmental nonprofits in the country.
“Ducks Unlimited announces new CEO. Adam Putnam to take the reins of world’s leader in wetlands conservation,” the Memphis-based organization tweeted on Wednesday.
Ducks Unlimited Announces New CEO
Adam Putnam @adamputnam to take the reins of world’s leader in wetlands conservation.https://t.co/YjHyyPmeSN #wetlands #waterfowl #conservation #DUNews pic.twitter.com/e1vnjSsAn8— Ducks Unlimited (@DucksUnlimited) March 13, 2019
Putnam was on the job market after falling short in his 2018 GOP gubernatorial primary bid to now-Gov. Ron DeSantis. Since Putnam had held elected office since he was months out of college, DeSantis successfully tagged him as an establishment candidate, while sporting a prominent endorsement from President Trump.
Putnam, scion of a prominent central Florida agriculture family, won election to the state House at 22. After four years in Tallahassee, in 2000 he won an open House seat, becoming the youngest member of Congress at the time. During his decade in Washington, Putnam rose through the GOP leadership, serving as chairman of the House Republican Conference from 2007-09.
Putnam then set his sights on Florida politics, winning the agriculture commissioner position in 2010. The statewide role was widely seen as a launching pad to a gubernatorial bid, and for much of Putnam’s tenure he was considered a natural successor to the term-limited GOP Gov. Rick Scott. But his primary loss to DeSantis sent his career in a different direction, and his background in policy and politics made him an appealing candidate to Ducks Unlimited, the organization’s president, Rogers Hoyt, said in a statement Wednesday.
“While Putnam is a strong advocate for the environment, he is also a staunch supporter of veterans and the sacrifices they’ve made for our country,” Hoyt said. “In 2011, he created Operation Outdoor Freedom to honor the selfless sacrifice of our nation’s disabled veterans. New state forests dedicated to veterans were opened, and the team built special accommodations at these facilities to meet their needs. More than 4,000 veterans have joined Operation Outdoor Freedom events since its inception.”
Putnam said on Twitter, “I’m honored to be the newest employee at @DucksUnlimited. My vision for DU is to bring together conservation-minded folks from all walks of life: farmers, city-dwellers, veterans, biologists, hunters…anyone who has a connection to our natural resources.”
I’m honored to be the newest employee at @DucksUnlimited. My vision for DU is to bring together conservation-minded folks from all walks of life: farmers, city-dwellers, veterans, biologists, hunters…anyone who has a connection to our natural resources. https://t.co/TzfxB5pJfo
— Adam Putnam (@adamputnam) March 13, 2019
Putnam and his family, longstanding members of the central Florida community, are planning to move to Memphis over the coming months.
