Washington, D.C. — September 10, 2025 — Safari Club International (SCI) is proud to announce the appointment of Chris Tymeson as Vice President of Government Affairs, where he will lead SCI’s legislative, regulatory, and policy strategy at the federal, state, and international levels.
In this senior leadership role, Tymeson will oversee SCI’s government relations team, shape advocacy priorities, and serve as the organization’s key liaison to policymakers, agencies, and allied conservation organizations.
Tymeson brings more than two decades of experience in natural resource and wildlife law, including his tenure as Chief Legal Counsel for the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and as Vice-Chair of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ National Legal Committee. Since joining SCI in 2021, he has advanced the organization’s policy agenda across the U.S., delivering testimony, tracking legislation, and engaging stakeholders to defend hunting freedoms and promote science-based conservation.
“Chris brings unmatched legal expertise and a lifetime of passion for hunting and conservation,” said Jeff Meyerl, President of SCI. “As Vice President of Government Affairs, he will ensure SCI’s voice is clear and powerful in protecting hunters’ rights and advancing conservation policy around the world.”
“We are thrilled to have Chris leading our advocacy efforts,” added W. Laird Hamberlin, CEO of SCI. “From modernizing the Endangered Species Act to expanding hunting access and supporting international conservation programs, his leadership will be essential to achieving SCI’s mission.”
A U.S. Army veteran and lifelong outdoorsman, Tymeson has hunted and fished across the United States, Canada, Africa, Asia, and Europe. He was a longtime Hunter Education Instructor and has taught law enforcement officers, policymakers, and public servants on legal and regulatory matters. He holds a J.D. from Washburn University School of Law and received his B.S. from Missouri Southern State College. He and his wife Kelley live in Overland Park, Kansas, with their four children who share his passion for the outdoors.