The award recognizes those who protect South Carolina’s lands, waters, and wildlife with exceptional dedication
By Cheyenne Twilley
Colonel Chisolm Frampton, S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), was presented the Palmetto Excellence in Stewardship Award — the first such award in SCDNR’s history: The Department announcing the presentation, Dec. 11, 2025.
SCDNR officials refer to the honor as a fitting tribute for a leader whose career embodies the very principles the award seeks to celebrate.
Few leaders have reshaped an agency and influenced a profession as profoundly as Col. Frampton, whose visionary leadership has strengthened SCDNR’s Law Enforcement Division (SCDNR LE) and advanced conservation law enforcement nationwide.
Frampton has served in critical leadership roles at every level, including serving as president of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (SEAFWA) Law Enforcement Chiefs, as a member of the National Association of Conservation Law Enforcement (NACLEC) Chiefs Steering Committee, vice chair of the Charleston-area Maritime Security Committee, and past chair of the South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council Law Enforcement Panel. Frampton’s strategic insights and commitment to cooperation elevated regional and national standards for resource protection.
Frampton authored S.C.’s first State Law Enforcement Boating Procurement Contract, a framework still in use today that continues to support local maritime industries. He also created SCDNR’s Saltwater Enforcement Team, enhancing commercial fisheries enforcement along the coast. In partnership with Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) and the U.S. Coast Guard, he helped develop a national maritime safety and security training curriculum now used across agencies.
Under Frampton’s leadership, SCDNR LE underwent one of the most comprehensive modernizations in its history. He transitioned the division to electronic officer accountability, including E-ticketing, computer-aided dispatch, and digital evidence storage—changes that revolutionized accuracy, transparency, and officer efficiency. He implemented Axon body-worn cameras and a statewide 800 MHz radio system, significantly improving communication and officer safety.
Frampton’s efforts resulted in the expansion of the division from 211 to 352 officers, while raising starting salaries from $30,377 to $54,192, strengthening recruitment and retention. He also created more than 18 new supervisory positions, giving officers long-needed advancement pathways.
Frampton expanded the training staff from two to eight full-time instructors, built programs in water survival, officer survival, and ground defense, and revitalized the Styx Firing Range with support from the S.C. National Guard. SCDNR became the only wildlife agency in the country equipped with a Firearms Training System de-escalation simulator, elevating training to a national standard.
Frampton’s modernization efforts continued across specialized units. He reinstated the K-9 Team, expanded the Dive Team from 10 to 16 divers, and institutionalized the use of divers for coastal recoveries and abandoned vessel removals. He implemented Adaptive Resolution Imaging Sonar (ARIS) sonar technology in aquatic investigations and oversaw a full equipment overhaul, including upgraded dive vans and rescue systems.
SCDNR became the first wildlife agency in the U.S. to deploy Aimpoint laser-sighted firearms, achieved through a partnership with Glock Austria and Aimpoint. He further strengthened agency effectiveness by establishing dedicated law enforcement attorneys for prosecution and training.
One of Frampton’s most enduring legacies is his leadership in creating the National Conservation Law Enforcement Leadership Academy (NCLELA). In 2013 national gathering, conservation chiefs recognized the need for a pipeline of future leaders. Frampton was one of the first to volunteer, hosting strategic planning sessions at the Webb Wildlife Center and helping design a curriculum that anticipates the future challenges of the profession.
Under Frampton’s leadership, NCLELA has become a cornerstone of professional development. More than 400 officers from across the U.S. and Canada have graduated from the academy, including 90 promoted officers, 45 new chiefs, deputy chiefs, colonels, and lieutenant colonels, as well as several executive leaders who today serve as state directors, assistant directors, and even the deputy director of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Frampton’s career represents a rare combination of innovation, strategic foresight, and unwavering dedication to public service. His influence extends far beyond South Carolina—shaping national training, strengthening interagency collaboration, and building the leadership foundation for the future of conservation law enforcement.
Col. Frampton’s service exemplifies the very essence of the Palmetto Excellence in Stewardship Award, making him the ideal honoree to launch this new tradition of recognizing SCDNR’s most exceptional stewards.
SCDNR announced the launch of the Palmetto Excellence in Stewardship Award, earlier this month. The award is part of a new recognition program honoring employees who demonstrate (or have demonstrated) outstanding commitment to SCDNR’s mission of protecting the lands, waters, wildlife, and people of South Carolina. The award celebrates individuals whose work reflects the highest standards of professionalism, service, and conservation leadership. SCDNR’s success depends on the dedication of staff across every division—from law enforcement officers on Palmetto State waterways to biologists in the field, educators in S.C. communities, and the professionals who support SCDNR operations behind the scenes.
– Cheyenne Twilley is SCDNR’s Chief of Education, Outreach, and Information.
– For more information about SCDNR, visit – https://www.dnr.sc.gov/