DMF Leadership

Michael S. Loeffler has been with the Division for 26 years, mostly working out of the Elizabeth City Office.  Loeffler began his career with the Division as a fisheries technician on the Striped Bass Independent Gill Net crew fishing gill nets in the Albemarle Sound.

He held this position for 3 years before advancing to a biologist position where he started a program collecting data to prepare Fishery Management Plans for the perch and catfish fisheries. His species responsibilities evolved over time to include Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon, spotted seatrout, weakfish, and coastal sharks. He also spent seven years as the lead southern flounder biologist. Loeffler was instrumental in coordinating the development of the Division’s multi-species tagging program because of his experience with conventional, acoustic, and satellite tagging.

Loeffler was promoted to biologist supervisor for the Manteo Field Office in February 2022. He became the Division’s deputy director in January 2023, then was named Interim Director in August 2026.

Loeffler’s love for water became evident when, as a small child, he ran his baby walker down a boat ramp and ended up upside down in a lake. That love grew as he spent summers sailing around Lake Huron with his parents and siblings on their 37-foot sailboat. The crystal-clear water and the history of shipwrecks spawned an interest in scuba diving which opened his eyes to the wonder of fish in their natural habitats. Loeffler attended Texas A & M University to obtain a B.S. in Marine Biology and learn everything he could about this fascinating environment.

When he is not working, Loeffler spends as much time as possible outdoors grilling, hiking, camping, swimming, boating, and landscaping with his wife, three adult children, friends, and other family. At other times, he’s planning for the next deer, duck, or turkey hunt and rigging boats and gear for future fishing adventures.