Tennessee Fish & Wildlife Commission

Commissioner Moody currently serves as the president of the Tennessee Farm Winegrowers Alliance and has been a member of the boards of the University of Tennessee Agriculture Extension, the Upper Cumberland Tourism Association, the local chapter of Ducks Unlimited, and the National Wild Turkey Federation, which she served as chapter president.

After working as the chief operating officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Cumberland Plateau, she, along with her husband, founded The Sawbriar at Big South Fork, a meticulously developed property specifically designed with premium upland bird hunting in mind.

Ms. Moody is well informed on the conservation of game animals, birds, and fish within this State; and earned an Associate of Science degree in Biology from Roane State Community College and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Tennessee Technological University.

Hanes Torbett provides financial services, employee benefits consulting, and insurance brokerage services in Tennessee. He is committed to helping families achieve financial security and has been honored with the 2021 President's Inner Circle qualification, the George B. Pearson Sales Leadership Award, and the Wall of Fame Award with Ohio National Life Insurance Company. 

Commissioner Torbett also serves on the Tennessee sports wagering council and is a former member of the Tennessee Historical Commission. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Industrial Relations from the University of North Carolina and is an avid sportsman and hunter. 

Commissioner Little is an attorney for the Woolf-McClane firm in Knoxville whose primary areas of practice include construction law, commercial litigation, and product liability/toxic tort. He has been a member of Best Lawyers in America© by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers® since 2009. In 2019, Mr. Ford was selected as one of America’s Top 100 Bet-the Company Litigators®.  

A hunter and fisherman, Commissioner Little is excited about the opportunity to serve on the Commission. “I look forward to listening and learning about the role that the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency plays in managing and preserving Tennessee’s fish and wildlife so that current and future citizens of our great state can enjoy its abundant resources.”

Commissioner. Little has been active in several professional and civic organizations. He is a member of the Construction Lawyers Society of America (Charter Fellow), Knoxville Bar Association (Fellow), Tennessee Bar Association, and Knox County Industrial Board, Associated General Contractors of Tennessee.

 He is a past president of The University of Tennessee Alumni Association and past chair of The University of Tennessee Past Presidents Council. Commissioner Little has served on The University of Tennessee Alumni Association Board of Governors and UTK Chancellor’s Associates. He currently serves on the Board for the Helen Ross McNabb Foundation Board of Directors. He is a past member of the boards of the Helen Ross McNabb Center, Dogwood Arts Festival, and is a member of Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church. He graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in accounting and earned his Juris Doctor degree (J.D.) from Vanderbilt. He and his wife, Malinda, have two children, James (Georgia) and Carlen. 

A native of Avery Island, La., Commissioner McIlhenny has embraced her family's 200-year legacy of stewardship and conservation, which has shaped her deep commitment to preserving natural habitats. Since moving to Tennessee, she has been an active volunteer with TWRA and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation (TWRF) outreach programs, particularly for new female hunters and the TWRF Heritage Club.

Her background combines personal service to education, community, wildlife preservation, and land conservation through board engagement with the GWM Foundation, Delta Waterfowl Foundation, and the Land Trust for Tennessee. She continues to be engaged with Harpeth River Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, Friends of Warner Park, Montgomery Bell Academy, and the Tennessee Wildlife Federation. Her hobbies include fishing, gardening, hunting. She notes that Tennessee is a great state for outdoorswomen. As a commissioner, she is looking forward to “being a good steward of our natural resources and providing safe access for current and future Tennesseans.”

Commissioner Butt resides in Columbia and serves as an association executive and farmer. He a graduate of Portland High School in Sumner County and Tennessee Tech University and attended National Executive Institute, Nashville Auction School, and Bear Valley School of Biblical Studies.

Commissioner Butt has been involved in several organizations including Portland Rotary, Woodbine Kiwanis, Germantown, Kiwanis, Columbia Breakfast Rotary, Maury County Cattlemen’s Association, Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association, and the Farm Animal Care Coalition of Tennessee. He is also on the Advisory Board for KORD Animal/Health Lab at the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and a member of the State Technical Advisory Committee.

As a commissioner, he is looking forward to “learning about the operation of the Agency, addressing constituents concerns in the district. Also, focusing on development and management of native species (I.e. deer, elk, turkey quail).”  He is also looking forward to getting to know officers, biologists, and WMA managers in his district. He enjoys hunting, fishing, and training dogs. He and his wife, Sheila, have four sons and 14 grandchildren.

Commissioner Belew serves as the Director of Public Safety at his alma mater, The University of Tennessee at Martin. He moved into his role after serving as sheriff in Henry County and also is a former Tennessee Highway Patrol state trooper.

He enjoys deer, duck, and turkey hunting, dog training, and fishing, especially on Kentucky Lake.

“Hoping to be able to give back to something that has given so much to me!” he said. “Hunting, fishing loving every day,” like Luke Bryan. Commissioner Belew is a member of the National Wild Turkey Federation and Ducks Unlimited. He was appointed to the newly created Asian Carp Advisory Commission. He is also a member of the state board for the Tennessee Suicide Network.

Along with UT Martin, Commissioner Belew is a graduate of Tennessee Law Enforcement Academy, Trooper THP School, and the FBI National Academy #244.

He has two lovely daughters Ashley and Amanda.

Commissioner Box has distinguished himself through a long and productive career as a lawyer and litigator and has tried numerous cases in state and federal court. He has represented many well-known companies, business leaders, celebrities, and professional athletes.

Commissioner Box serves on the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees; on the Board, he serves on the audit committee, as chair of the general counsel search committee, and as a member of the UT Research Foundation Board.

John McCarty grew up hunting and fishing in Tennessee and Mississippi. He enjoys introducing the younger generation to hunting and fishing and is an avid sportsman himself.

Commissioner McCarty managed several projects for the Tennessee Department of Transportation prior to starting his own company, McCarty Granberry Engineering, in Collierville.

He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from Mississippi State University and earned the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts. 

Commissioner Cox is a partner in McGinnis Oil Company, Town Square Partners, and Willwright Properties in Collierville. He previously served on the Commission from 2001-07 and again from 2012-19. He was chairman in 2005. Previously, he was the District 9 representative and will be serving as a statewide appointment.

He is involved in various civic and community services in the Collierville area. He is a member of the Tennessee Wildlife Federation Advisory Board, Collierville Historic District Commission, and Main Street Collierville Merchants Association. Commissioner Cox is also a member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Delta Waterfowl, National Wild Turkey Association, and National Rifle Association.

Commissioner Cox’s hobbies are hunting, fishing, gardening, and four grandchildren. He and his wife, Cindy, have three children; William, Carrington, and Allison. 

John “Chip” Saltsman was named to serve on the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission in July 2022.

A well-known national political strategist, Commissioner Saltsman has worked primarily in his home state. He has worked as a consultant on several national and state campaigns. He also served as Senior Political Advisor to former Senior Senate Majority Advisor Bill Frist at VOLPAC, a political action committee chaired by the senator. He began his career on Gov. Don Sundquist’s staff and later served as chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party for a time.

“Growing up, hunting and fishing in the southeast, I never imagined having the opportunity to serve on the commission,” Commissioner Saltsman said. “I am looking forward to working with the great team at the TWRA to improve and continue the great hunting and fishing tradition for Tennessee.”

Commissioner Saltsman resides in his hometown of Nashville with Katie and daughter Abigail. He attended Christian Brothers University in Memphis, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s in business administration degrees. He enjoys hunting and fishing.