John McMillan
President & Lead Scientist
John was raised along the banks of the Washougal River, where he was indoctrinated into a fly-fishing family led by his father Bill. This eventually led John to snorkel among salmonids, then to college and research, and ultimately to graduate school.
Before joining TCA, John studied salmonids for the USFS, the Hoh Indian Tribe, the Wild Salmon Center, and NOAA/NWFSC as part of the Elwha River dam removal project. Most recently, he served as the Science Director for Trout Unlimited’s Wild Steelhead Initiative.
John’s extensive research has frequently focused on the biology, behavior, and ecology of steelhead and rainbow trout, with particular interest in the mechanisms influencing why individual fish adopt particular life-history strategies, such as anadromy and residency, and why these strategies are critical to the resilience of Oncorhynchus mykiss. He has published numerous peer-reviewed manuscripts on steelhead and salmon science, and has written books, book chapters, and articles on fish and fishing.
With TCA, John will use his considerable energies to educate anglers, develop solutions for key conservation challenges, and identify and implement topical research projects that advance our collective understanding of the biological and evolutionary fabric of steelhead. He also continues to work with a large team of scientists researching the response of steelhead and salmon to dam removal on the Elwha.
John lives on the Olympic Peninsula with his wife, Laurel, where nearly all his free time is spent snorkeling, taking underwater photographs, or fishing the region’s rivers. He has served as the President of TCA since December 2024.
Before joining TCA, John studied salmonids for the USFS, the Hoh Indian Tribe, the Wild Salmon Center, and NOAA/NWFSC as part of the Elwha River dam removal project. Most recently, he served as the Science Director for Trout Unlimited’s Wild Steelhead Initiative.
John’s extensive research has frequently focused on the biology, behavior, and ecology of steelhead and rainbow trout, with particular interest in the mechanisms influencing why individual fish adopt particular life-history strategies, such as anadromy and residency, and why these strategies are critical to the resilience of Oncorhynchus mykiss. He has published numerous peer-reviewed manuscripts on steelhead and salmon science, and has written books, book chapters, and articles on fish and fishing.
With TCA, John will use his considerable energies to educate anglers, develop solutions for key conservation challenges, and identify and implement topical research projects that advance our collective understanding of the biological and evolutionary fabric of steelhead. He also continues to work with a large team of scientists researching the response of steelhead and salmon to dam removal on the Elwha.
John lives on the Olympic Peninsula with his wife, Laurel, where nearly all his free time is spent snorkeling, taking underwater photographs, or fishing the region’s rivers. He has served as the President of TCA since December 2024.