Montana State Veterinarian Tom Linfield, DVM, has resigned his position to take a job with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Wyoming.

His last day was Friday.

The 50-year-old Linfield ran the animal health division of the Montana Department of Livestock, and often served as the state’s front man in contentious bison-related matters.

He says he’ll continue working with disease in livestock and wildlife in his new job as a federal epidemiologist in Cheyenne. He also plans to obtain a master’s degree in epidemiology