He is best known for his work involving the interplay between science and policy, natural resource management, and assessments of the future of salmon runs.

[1] From 1981-2008, he held senior leadership posts at the United States Environmental Protection Agency research laboratory in Corvallis, Oregon.

Lackey had an early focus on solving practical fisheries problems, improving fish yields using various novel habitat enhancement techniques.

Lackey’s leadership in developing policy options to restore wild salmon to the west coast of the United States is well known and controversial.

His current work focuses on education, especially developing online graduate courses in ecological and natural resource policy.