Commissioners and Exectuive Staff

Learn about the 9 members of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. 

A native of Berks County, Steve graduated magna cum laude from West Chester University with a degree in Political Science. He received his law degree from the Penn State Dickinson School of law where he was Senior Editor of Penn State International Law Review.​​

Steve joined the agency in 2008, after several years of practicing law in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Prior to his appointment as executive director, Smith had served as the​ deputy executive director ​​as well as the director of the Game Commission’s Bureau of Information and Education.

Gustafson graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Forest Science from Penn State in 2000. He began his career as a forester with Weaber Inc. in Lebanon in 2001, was hired as a forester by the Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources, then in 2003, became a forester with the Game Commission in the Northwest Region.

In 2005, Gustafson was promoted to forest program specialist and helped start the agency’s Forest Inventory and Analysis Section. In 2007, he was promoted to Chief Forester of the Game Commission until his current promotion to bureau director.

Gustafson enlisted in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in 1997. In 2006, he was appointed to the rank of Second Lieutenant by Direct Commission. He served as First Lieutenant and Company Executive Officer during Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq from September 2008 until October 2009 and was decorated with numerous military honors.

Gustafson is originally from Port Allegany in McKean County. He and his wife, Christine, currently reside in Loysville, Perry County, with daughters Rebekah and Caroline, and lab Ruby.

Gustafson graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Forest Science from Penn State in 2000. He began his career as a forester with Weaber Inc. in Lebanon in 2001, was hired as a forester by the Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources, then in 2003, became a forester with the Game Commission in the Northwest Region.

In 2005, Gustafson was promoted to forest program specialist and helped start the agency’s Forest Inventory and Analysis Section. In 2007, he was promoted to Chief Forester of the Game Commission until his current promotion to bureau director.

Gustafson enlisted in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in 1997. In 2006, he was appointed to the rank of Second Lieutenant by Direct Commission. He served as First Lieutenant and Company Executive Officer during Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq from September 2008 until October 2009 and was decorated with numerous military honors.

Gustafson is originally from Port Allegany in McKean County. He and his wife, Christine, currently reside in Loysville, Perry County, with daughters Rebekah and Caroline, and lab Ruby.

Dr. Matthew Schnupp was appointed Director of the Bureau of Wildlife Management during January 2018. Prior to joining the Game Commission, Matthew served for 10 years as the chief wildlife biologist and research liaison for the 825,000-acre King Ranch, in Kingsville, TX. He also served as an adjunct professor at Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

Matthew has worked with an array of game, nongame, waterfowl, vegetation, threatened and endangered species, and diseases like chronic wasting disease. He has experience working with state and federal employees, politicians, researchers, non-profit organizations, and sportsmen. Matthew is a Certified Wildlife Biologist® and his educational background includes a doctorate and a master’s in wildlife science from Texas A&M University-Kingsville and a bachelor’s degree in wildlife and fisheries management from West Virginia University.

Matthew developed his love for the outdoors by hunting deer, squirrels, and pheasants in Washington and Greene counties. He spends his free time enjoying the outdoors with his wife Jessica and their two kids.

Jason L. DeCoskey was appointed Director of the Bureau of Wildlife Protection in January 2020. Having worked for the agency since 2001, he is responsible for overseeing and directing law enforcement operations.

Jason served in the United State Marine Corps from 1994-1998 as a fire direction controlmen for an artillery battery. He graduated with the Game Commission’s 26th Class of the Ross Leffler School of Conservation in 2002 and served the sportsmen in Dauphin county until 2006.

As a district officer, he served with nine Deputy Game Wardens, with who he credits for his success as a game warden.