Indiana Conservation Officer Ryan Blackman, who serves White County, has been selected as the 2025 District 3 Officer of the Year.
"Across Indiana, conservation officers are on the front lines promoting public safety in the outdoors and protecting our state's vital natural resources,” said Governor Mike Braun. “I congratulate the officers from each of the 10 districts who have earned this distinguished honor for their exceptional service on behalf of Hoosiers in 2025."
Blackman has served as a conservation officer for 27 years, all in White County. He was previously a member of the district leadership team holding the rank of Corporal from 2011 through 2023.
In addition to his normal duties as a field officer, Blackman serves as a SCUBA diver, EMT, emergency vehicle operations (EVO) instructor, and peer support team member for the Department of Natural Resources Division of Law Enforcement.
District 3 includes Benton, Boone, Cass, Carroll, Clinton, Fountain, Montgomery, Tippecanoe, Warren, and White counties.
The district award puts Blackman in the running for the Pitzer Award, which is presented to the top overall conservation officer in the state and is selected from the 10 district winners.
The Pitzer Award is named after Conservation Officer James D. Pitzer, who was fatally shot while investigating illegal hunting activity on Jan. 2, 1961, in Jay County.