Defenders of Wildlife Welcomes Alicia Washkevich as New Chief Operating Officer

Defenders of Wildlife is pleased to announce Alicia Washkevich as its new Chief Operating Officer. With more than 20 years of leadership experience across the nonprofit, environmental, political and military sectors, Alicia will oversee Defenders’ operations and help drive the strategic direction of the organization’s mission to protect, preserve and restore imperiled wildlife and their habitats. 

“Alicia brings a wealth of cross-sector operational and leadership experience to Defenders of Wildlife and will be a critical voice in the organization as we plan for the future,” said Andrew Bowman, president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife. “We are thrilled to have Alicia on board and look forward to having her at the helm of our operations.” 

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Alicia comes to Defenders from her most recent appointment as the Chief Operating Officer for New Politics, an organization dedicated to empowering and inspiring a new generation of transformational leaders who prioritize American democracy. She also held several roles at the Sierra Club, including Deputy Chief Operating Officer. 

“The mission to protect and restore imperiled wildlife and the habitats on which they depend has always been close to my heart,” said Alicia Washkevich, Defenders of Wildlife Chief Operating Officer. “I’m truly excited to be joining Defenders as its Chief Operating Officer and to support this dedicated team and help advance their vital work on behalf of wildlife and the natural world.”

In addition to her non-profit experience, Alicia is a proud navy veteran and brings scientific expertise to Defenders with a Master of Science in Applied Science from the Naval Postgraduate School and a Bachelor of Science in Oceanography from the United States Naval Academy. In 2019, she successfully completed Cornell University’s Women in Leadership certificate program, furthering her commitment to continuous professional growth and belonging.

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