The WWA Welcomes Aaron Bannon!

The Wyoming Wilderness Association (WWA) is thrilled to announce its new Executive Director, Aaron Bannon!

Aaron has a long history with the WWA, beginning when he volunteered with Liz Howell as she formalized the organization’s non-profit status in the early 2000s. He later served on the WWA board. As a second generation Wyomingite, Aaron also has deep roots in the state; he grew up camping, backpacking, skiing and biking in Wyoming's world class wilderness and sweeping open spaces, and now prioritizes fostering a love for the outdoors with his two children at their home in Lander.

Throughout his professional career, Aaron has been driven by his belief that wildlands are worth conserving both for the role they play in a healthy planet and the transformative power they hold for people. He has been persistent in his desire to preserve natural outdoor spaces and build connections with people who value them. 

Following positions in communications, advocacy, and development at environmental organizations in Washington, DC, Sheridan, WY, and San Francisco, CA, Aaron landed in the public policy department at The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in Lander, WY. This included five years as the Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Director, where he played a key role in the broad coalition that brought about the Wyoming Range Legacy Act, which preserved 1.2 million acres of the Wyoming Range from oil and gas development.

Congruent to his time at NOLS, Aaron also served for ten years on the Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources Commission under Governors Matt Mead and Mark Gordon.

Most recently, Aaron held the Executive Director position for the America Outdoors Association. There, Aaron spent five years breaking down administrative and legal barriers for facilitated recreation providers, enabling them to focus on offering accessible, authentic experiences to people who would otherwise struggle to overcome the barrier to entry. This work culminated in the passage of the Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Act, which modernized the commercial permitting process and prioritized outdoor recreation as a goal for public land management agencies.

With his expertise and experience in building coalitions, engaging grassroots stakeholders, advocating at both a local and national level, Aaron is poised to hit the ground running as Executive Director of the WWA. He is a wealth of policy information and enthusiasm, and sees tremendous potential for the WWA  to amplify its message and expand its role as the trusted voice and caretaker for our state’s windswept steppes and rugged peaks. The WWA could not be in better hands. 

Please join us in wishing a warm welcome to Aaron!

Meet Aaron