Commissioner Bachman is an avid angler and hunter with over 20 years of professional experience in management of fish and wildlife. Before his retirement in 1999 he served in a number of fish and wildlife positions with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, including Director of Freshwater Fisheries, Director of Fish and Wildlife and Director of Maryland’s Fisheries Service. During his tenure in Maryland he served as President of the Northeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, member of the Executive Committee of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and Commissioner on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

Dr. Bachman is a an active member of  numerous conservation organizations including the Cocalico Sportsmen’s Club, Donegal Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Northern Lancaster County Game and Fish Protective Association, Susquehanna Smallmouth Bass Alliance, Coastal Conservation Association, the Maryland Saltwater Sportsman Association, the Pennsylvania Flyfishing Museum Association, the Lehigh Coldwater Fishery Alliance, and founding member of the Cocalico Creek Watershed Association.

A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, with 20 years service in the US Navy, Commissioner Bachman earned a BS in Oceanography from the University of Washington, and his PhD in Behavioral Ecology from the Pennsylvania State University in 1982. He has published numerous professional papers and popular articles on fisheries management and fish behavior. 

He resides in Lancaster County with his wife, Gail and their Labrador retriever, Tater. Their son, Allen, is also an avid angler and lives with his wife, Aprille in Washington, DC.