William received his Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Management from West Texas State University in 1989 followed by his post-graduate work in Zoology. His areas of research are crisis management, zoological safety, and animal behavior, which draws upon his experience as a Wildlife Biologist, Zoologist, PADI Rescue Diver, AGFC and TPWD Hunter Safety Instructor, NRA Firearms Instructor and Range Safety Officer, Safe Capture graduate, and Red Cross CPR/First Aid Instructor. He is also a past member of Who’s Who of Professional Management. He has been active in the fields of wildlife management and zoology for over 30 years, and has worked at numerous universities and zoological facilities in the Southwest. His experience includes positions as Lab and Museum Assistant, ERT Leader, Cat, Elephant and Marine Mammal Trainer, Large Mammal Keeper, Senior Keeper, Curator, and Director. This career track includes experience in bond, operational, and capital budgets. He also operated a consultancy specializing in crisis management, exotic felid husbandry, ethology, enrichment, and training for 16 years. His career service includes the AZA Antelope TAG, the Sanctuary Standards of Care And Operations work group, the Maned Wolf SSP Management Committee, and was a contributing author to the Jaguar SSP Husbandry Manual and Associate Editor for the AAZK book “Resources for Crisis Management”. He has also served as a Board Member for Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge and first started riding horses when he was 10 years old and still loves old leathers, a good horse, and the high country.