Brian Clifford

Deputy Commissioner

Bureau of Conservation
Environment & Conservation

Brian Clifford serves as Deputy Commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. He began his career as an attorney, spending about a decade in private practice and public-sector counsel before moving into leadership roles in the state’s bureau of conservation.

Driven by a passion for all things outdoors, Clifford transitioned from legal work into strategy and executive leadership—first as Director of Strategic Initiatives and later as the founding Director of Tennessee’s Office of Outdoor Recreation, focused on strengthening conservation and expanding access to Tennessee’s outdoors. A founding member of the Tennessee Outdoor Partnership, he unites public, private, and nonprofit leaders to advance shared outdoor priorities. An avid hunter, kayaker, and mountain biker, he doesn’t just champion outdoor initiatives that connect communities with trails, waterways, and public lands—he actively enjoys them.

Appointed Deputy Commissioner in 2026, Clifford now provides executive leadership for the Bureau of Conservation, which includes Tennessee State Parks, State Natural Areas, archaeology, and the Office of Outdoor Recreation. Married to Michelle and a father of two, he also coaches youth sports and serves as a Williamson County Commissioner.