ACCSP Staff Member Receives AFS Distinguished Service Award

ACCSP Deputy Director, Julie DeFilippi Simpson was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from The American Fisheries Society (AFS) at their annual business meeting on August 23, 2023, in Grand Rapids, MI. AFS is the world’s oldest and largest organization dedicated to strengthening the fisheries profession, advancing fisheries science, and conserving fisheries resources. AFS offers awards to its members and partners for unique contributions that directly or indirectly impact fisheries science. The Distinguished Service Award was established in 1980 and recognizes outstanding contributions of time and energy for special projects or activities by AFS members.

The award was announced by AFS President Elect, Dr. Cecil Jennings. “Julie has provided remarkable service to AFS leading to outstanding results on multiple special projects and activities in recent years.  She literally saved the AFS 2021 annual meeting from utter chaos, served on a team of three to develop the new AFS logo, which was presented to the Governing Board in 2021, and played major roles in developing the 150th anniversary logo and the Baltimore 2021 meeting logo.  

Julie manages all of her AFS projects on top of her professional position as the Deputy Director of the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program. Her other accomplishments are many and she richly deserves the Distinguished Service Award!”

Julie stated that she “was humbled to be honored and grateful to be among such amazing colleagues and previous award recipients. I am also thankful for the support that I have received from the ACCSP and ASMFC.”

“Julie’s contributions to AFS have furthered their mission, highlighted marine fisheries, and simultaneously expanded a national focus on fisheries data standards and data management.” noted Geoff White, ACCSP Director.