Eric Hammerling has been executive director of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association since May 2008. Before that he was the executive director for the Farmington River Watershed Association.

He holds a master's degree in environmental science/range management from U.C. Berkeley, and a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. In addition to his work at the association, he also serves on the board of the Rivers Alliance of Connecticut, the Friends of Connecticut State Parks and the Natural Resources Council of Connecticut, and is a member of the steering committee of the Working Lands Alliance and the Connecticut Land Conservation Council.

Along with hiking, he also enjoys kayaking on Connecticut's rivers and lakes.