Game Warden Sergeant Chad Robertson of Division D in Greenville was honored by his peers as the Maine Game Warden of the Year for 2025. Game Warden Sergeant Kyle Hladik of Division A in Gray was honored as supervisor of the year, and retired Game Warden Colonel Bill Vernon was honored as Legendary Game Warden of the Year. The awards were presented at the Maine Warden Service awards banquet this past Friday, April 3rd.
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Judy Camuso was the featured speaker for the annual awards ceremony, and she discussed the notable accomplishments of the Warden Service and the Department from the past year, as well as achievements from the last eight years.
The awards ceremony gives special recognition to game wardens for exceptional performance during 2025. Awards are given for the Maine Game Warden of the Year, Game Warden Supervisor of the Year, the Legendary Game Warden of the Year, as well as awards for conduct above the normal line of duty, outstanding work that merits special attention, outstanding K9 work, and recognizes individuals and groups who assisted the Maine Warden Service.
Achievements that were recognized included incidents where lives were saved, and other awards highlighted the conservation of Maine's fish and wildlife resources in ways deserving of special recognition. The following were recipients of this year's annual awards.
Game Warden Chad Robertson, Maine Warden Service 2025 Warden of the Year
Game Warden Chad Robertson, a 13-year veteran of the Maine Warden Service, has been named the 2025 Game Warden of the Year for his outstanding service, leadership, and dedication. Robertson, who was recently promoted to sergeant, patrols the greater Skowhegan area, an area known for outdoor recreation.
Warden Robertson is consistently one of the busiest wardens in the state, producing strong cases on night hunting, hunting big game in closed seasons, exceeding the bag limit on big game, felons illegally hunting, and multiple over limits on fish. He is an excellent interviewer, and skilled at obtaining search warrants. He is also a tremendous resource for other game wardens, providing guidance on multiple investigations regarding illegal hunting methods.
Robertson has also played a significant role in recruiting and training new game wardens. He has mentored and trained new wardens, served on hiring boards, and played key roles in Advanced Warden Schools, including serving as Lead Cadre in 2025.
As a K9 handler, Robertson and his K9 Storm are exceptional team. In 2025, they were deployed 24 times and located six missing individuals. During a major search on Mount Katahdin, they located a missing hiker in extremely challenging terrain, significantly aiding the overall mission and bringing closure to the family.
Robertson is deeply involved in his community, participating in educational outreach, youth programs, and advisory roles related to outdoor recreation and safety. He also participated in the Wreaths Across America Convoy which honors each veteran in Arlington Cemetery with a wreath. He also serves on the Whitewater Guide's Advisory board and oversees deputies assigned to whitewater rafting enforcement.
In addition to his career as a game warden, Robertson has served in the Army and Air National Guard, including a deployment to Iraq in 2021-2022. He also has received several Exemplary Service Awards and was awarded the 2023 International Wildlife Crimestoppers Game Warden of the Year.
Sergeant Kyle Hladik – 2025 Supervisor of the Year
Sergeant Kyle Hladik, a member of the Maine Warden Service since 2013, was awarded the 2025 Supervisor of the Year for his exceptional leadership, dedication, and commitment to his section, division and the Maine Warden service.
Sergeant Hladik leads by example. He consistently works alongside the wardens he supervises, often adjusting his schedule or extending his hours to support investigations and fieldwork. He is known for being always available to provide guidance and support, regardless of whether he is on duty or off. This hands-on approach consistently yields strong results while building trust within his team.
He is also known for his work in training new game wardens. He plays an active role in the Warden Training Officer (WTO) program and the agency's training committee, understanding that new wardens will be the future of this agency.
Sergeant Hladik is also a dedicated member of the Maine Warden Service Dive Team, where he has served since 2017. He is highly regarded for his expertise from training to operations, diving academics, dive performance, and use of electronics. Additionally, he plays a key role in search and rescue operations as an incident commander and actively participates in searches when not leading them.
Notably, during a major search for missing hikers on Mount Katahdin, Sergeant Hladik led teams in difficult terrain, ensured proper handling of evidence, and helped locate one of the deceased hikers. His leadership, technical knowledge, and focus on safety were critical to the success of the operation.
Colonel (Ret.) Herbert "Bill" Vernon – Legendary Game Warden of the Year
Colonel (Ret.) Herbert "Bill" Vernon was awarded the Legendary Game Warden of the Year Award in recognition of his distinguished career and lifelong dedication to the Maine Warden Service. Beginning as a Deputy Warden in 1958, Vernon advanced through every rank—Game Warden, Inspector, Lieutenant, Major, and ultimately Colonel—serving as the agency's leader from 1990 until his retirement in 1994.
Throughout his career, Vernon demonstrated exceptional expertise in conservation law enforcement. He was known for his keen observational skills, strong memory, and fair, professional approach. His ability to recall critical details often led to successful investigations, and he became a trusted mentor and advisor to fellow wardens.
As Colonel, Vernon oversaw the entire Maine Warden Service, emphasizing enforcement, search and rescue, and public outreach. His leadership helped shape the professionalism and effectiveness of the agency. Bill was known to all game wardens as honest, fair, and supportive. Since retiring, Vernon has remained a strong advocate for the Maine Warden Service, continuing to promote its mission within his community alongside his wife.
The Legendary Game Warden of the Year Award is awarded to a retired Game Warden who has consistently demonstrated exceptional expertise in conservation law enforcement and who has continued, in retirement, to advance the mission of the Maine Warden Service.
List of Awards
2025 Game Warden Of The Year – Game Warden Sergeant Chad Robertson
2025 Game Warden Supervisor Of The Year – Game Warden Sergeant Kyle Hladik
Legendary Game Warden Of The Year – Herbert "Bill" Vernon
2025 Special Recognition Award – Game Warden Corporal Chris Dyer
K9 Search and Rescue Case of the Year – Game Warden Jake Voter
2025 Conservation K9 Case of the Year Award – Game Warden Kayle Hamilton
Meritorious Service Award - awarded for conduct above the ordinary course of duty, in which a warden because of their initiative, courage and diligence places themselves in danger while performing an unusual task.
Game Warden Pete Herring, Game Warden Mike Pierre, Game Warden Cody York
Exemplary Service Award - for rendering outstanding service that deserves special recognition:
Game Warden Chris Carney, Game Warden Tom DiTomasso, Game Warden Emerson Duplissie-Cyr, Game Warden Tyler Harhart, Game Warden Sargeant Joshua Beal, Game Warden Nick Johnson, Game Warden Hunter Howard, Game Warden Avery Boucher, Game Warden Chris Carney, Game Warden Steve Milton, Game Warden Tennie Coleman, Game Warden Marc D'Elia, Game Warden Tom DiTomasso, Game Warden Peter Herring, Game Warden Tyler Leach, Game Warden Investigator Seth Powers, Game Warden Kale O'Leary, Game Warden James Gushee, Game Warden Corporal Tony Gray, Game Warden Mike Pierre, Game Warden Sergeant Carleton Richardson, Game Warden Kevin Richards, Game Warden Sergeant Bruce Loring, Game Warden Matt Tenan, Game Warden Pilot Joshua Tibbetts, Game Warden Steve Milon and Game Warden Ben Gormely.