National Forest Leadership Council
Bernie Weingardt
ChairmanBernie Weingardt retired from the U.S. Forest Service where he served as Pacific Southwest Regional Forester. In this position, he oversaw 18 National Forests in California, which make up 20 million acres covering the North coast, Cascade and Sierra Nevada ranges and extending from Big Sur to the Mexican border in the South Coast range. His responsibilities also include assistance to state and private landowners in California, Hawaii and the Pacific Islands. Mr. Weingardt was formerly Deputy Regional Forester for Resources in the Pacific Southwest Region from January 2001 until his current appointment. Before that, he served five years as Forest Supervisor of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. He began his Forest Service career in 1970 as a seasonal employee on the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest in Colorado working in recreation and fire. In 1974 he became a full-time employee, and through a series of natural resource management positions, gained experience and expertise, working his way up to District Ranger on the San Juan National Forest in 1980. A second District Ranger position followed in 1986 on the Dillon Ranger District of the White River National Forest in Colorado. In 1989 he became the Deputy Forest Supervisor on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in Washington until 1993 when he was appointed as Team Leader for the National Recreation Strategy at the Forest Service’s headquarters in Washington DC. Mr. Weingardt holds a degree in Forest Management Science from Colorado State University. His favorite pastimes include carpentry and skiing, hiking and camping in the great outdoors. He is married and the proud father of a happy, energetic 2 year old.
Ralph Bailey
NFLC MemberRalph E. Bailey is the retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Conoco, Inc. and retired Vice Chairman of the Board of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. Mr. Bailey is currently Chairman of the Board of American Bailey Corporation, a privately owned investment company, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fuel Tech, Inc. and Fuel-Tech N.V. His directorships include Fuel Tech, Inc./Fuel-Tech N.V., Great Northern Properties Management Corporation, and the Advisory Council of J.P. Morgan. Past directorships include J.P. Morgan, General Signal, IC Industries, Abex Corporation, DuPont, The Williams Companies, the Rowan Companies, Inc., Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc., and the National Forest Foundation. He was former Chairman of the National Petroleum Council and the American Mining Congress.
Perry Brown
NFLC MemberPerry Brown is Dean and professor, School of Forestry, and Director of the Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station, at the University of Montana-Missoula. He has considerable expertise in natural resource social science, policy and planning, in recreation behavior and planning, and in wilderness studies. His Ph.D. is from Utah State University and emphasized outdoor recreation and social psychology. A life-long westerner, he has served on the faculties of Utah State University, Colorado State University, and Oregon State University in addition to his current assignment in Montana. He has served in formal advisory appointments with both the USDA Forest Service and the USDI Bureau of Land Management. Currently he is the Past-President of the National Association of Professional Forestry Schools and Colleges (NAPFSC), and he served as a member of the National Research Council Committee on Forestry Research Capacity and chair of the Pinchot Institute's National Panel on Wilderness Stewardship. He is a member of the executive/advisory boards of NAPFSC, the International Union for Forest Research Organizations, the Consortium for International Development (a consortium of 10 western universities), the Center for the Rocky Mountain West, the Western Rural Development Center, the Ecosystem Management Research Institute (a private non-profit research institute), the National Forest Foundation, and he chairs the Executive Committee of the Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit. He has published over 100 scientific papers, books, and book chapters and graduated 47 masters and 11 Ph.D. students.
Rick Cables
NFLC MemberRick Cables became Regional Forester of the Rocky Mountain Region in January 2001. As Regional Forester he is responsible for the administration of over 22 millions acres in 17 National Forests and 7 National Grasslands, and cooperative efforts with state and private landowners in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and eastern Wyoming. Cables, who was born in Pueblo, Colorado, graduated from Northern Arizona University Forestry School in 1976, and began his forestry career on the Kaibab National Forest in Northern Arizona. After serving on several National Forests in New Mexico and Arizona, he became District Ranger on the Apache–Sitgreaves National Forest. He then served two years in the Washington Office before he was selected to attend the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 1989-1990. In 1990 Mr. Cables was promoted to Forest Supervisor of the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire and Maine. In 1995 he became the Forest Supervisor of the Pike and San Isabel National Forests and Comanche and Cimarron National Grasslands in Colorado and Kansas. Before becoming Regional Forester of the Rocky Mountain Region, Cables was Regional Forester of the Alaska Region, covering the Tongass and Chugach National Forests. Cables and wife, Cindy, have three children; Stewart, Wesley and Natalie.
Kent Connaughton
NFLC MemberKent Connaughton became Regional Forester of the Eastern Region of the Forest Service in February 2008. In this capacity, he is responsible for the administration of one national tallgrass prairie and 17 national forests located in 20 states. The Eastern Region is geographically, ecologically, and socially diverse and is home to more than 43 percent of the U.S. population. Mr. Connaughton holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University, a Master of Forestry degree from Oregon State University, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of California, Berkeley. He began his career at the Pacific Northwest Research Station as a forest economics researcher. During his 30-year career in the U.S. Forest Service, he has had assignments as Forest Supervisor on the Lassen National Forest in California, and Deputy Regional Forester in the Pacific Southwest Region. He headed the Sierra Nevada Framework for Conservation and Collaboration from 1998 to 2001, which reconfigured federal policies to manage California's Sierra Nevada federal forests and communities from catastrophic wildfire, provided for improved old-growth forest conditions, and provided habitat conservation for the California spotted owl and other important forest species. Most recently, he served as Associate Deputy Chief for State & Private Forestry in Washington, D.C., where he was responsible for federal protection of the nation's forests from fire, insects, and disease, as well as programs to support sustainable management of non-federal forests, conservation education, and tribal relations. He is a member of the Society of American Foresters, and was elected Fellow of that professional society in 1991. His wife, Sue, is a forester and a teacher. They have two children.
Doug Crandall
NFLC MemberDoug Crandall is currently the Staff Director for the House Resources Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health in Washington D.C. For two years previous to that appointment he was Vice President for the National Forest Foundation, a private nonprofit conservation organization that works in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service. For four years before that, Doug was again Staff Director for the House Resources Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health. Before working for Congress, Doug spent five years as Director of Federal Forests for the American Forest and Paper Association, where he was responsible for National Forest issues. Prior to that, he spent ten years managing a lumber company -- including mill, remanufacturing facility, and logging operations - in Livingston, Montana. Previous to that, Doug spent four years on the Brazilian Amazon, first as a forester and float-plane pilot, then as a plywood mill manager. Doug graduated with a Bachelors of Science in forestry from Oregon State University in 1979 where he was selected by faculty as the most outstanding graduating senior. He has been a member and officer of numerous forestry, industry, and community organizations.
Steve Fausel
NFLC MemberDr. Stephen A. Fausel, a man of deep commitment to the environment and conservation causes, is the Director of The Fausel Foundation, and CEO of Fausel Companies. One of his companies, LaMont Limited, is the nation's foremost manufacturer of wicker furniture for the home. Voice Assets, another of the Fausel Companies, has a stockholder interest in the Cohen Home Building process - a unique system of building high quality homes of nearly any size in a manufacturing plant without shipping components.
Dr. Fausel also heads the privately-held medical development company Anapole, Inc., which creates cutting edge science, and is currently merging physics and chemistry in the areas of TB, AIDS and other areas of interest. Buffalo Weaver, another of Dr. Fausel's companies, is named for an African bird, and is located in Iowa. This plant manufactures woven papers and other fabrics with high speed specialized looms. He is the Chairman of the Environmental Conservancy Group, which has two large conservancies in Namibia, and which aims at creating general economic sustainability for humans as well as territorial sustainability for other creatures. His interest in Africa has stimulated a desire to help its economy grow through other business ventures, as well. For instance, SeaArk International is in the business of producing, processing, marketing, and distributing seafood using advanced, "state-of-the-art" aquaculture and mari-culture technologies and production methodologies. Previously, Dr. Fausel served as Founder and President of S.A.A.S. (formerly Lien Tai Hong) which specialized in joint ventures with the People's Republic of China, and, among other accomplishments, has partnered with China's official airline, CAAC Air Cargo Division, on numerous projects - including the creation of wireless teaching systems for China in cooperation with Japanese partners. When he was not hunting or fishing, Dr. Fausel attended Truman University in Missouri and Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, Missouri. He served in the military, and was an adjunct professor at West Virginia University. He has been given membership in Northwestern University's John Evans Club, and has received an honorary doctorate from The American University of Rome. Dr. Fausel currently serves on the Advisory Board of the American Foreign Policy Council, and has served on the Board of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, and as founding board member, Honorary Chairman and National Spokesperson for the Continental Divide Trail Alliance. He has served on the Board of the Intermountain West Joint Venture, of the Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center and of the International Foundation for the Conservation of Natural Resources; as Honorary Chairman of the Colorado Division of Wildlife Centennial and of the North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers; as Chairman of Physically-challenged Access to the Woods; and as a Board Member and Vice Chairman of the National Forest Foundation. He has also been a Trustee of the Native American Fish & Wildlife Foundation. In his spare time, Dr. Fausel enjoys snow skiing, long distance rifle shooting, and photography, is accomplished in one martial art, and has multiple aircraft type ratings.
Scott Fossel
NFLC MemberBackground: Age 51. Scott was born in Connecticut, raised in New Hampshire and now lives in Connecticut and Wyoming with his wife Petria and two children, a daughter (Christina, age15) and a son (Pieter, age 11). Interests include: politics, flying, investing, skiing, fishing, hiking, bow hunting and mountain climbing. Business: Currently a consultant and private investor. For the prior eleven years he invested equity for Citicorp Venture Capital, Ltd. With eleven professional employees, CVC has earned in excess of $2.4 billion for Citicorp over the prior 10 years. Has served on the Boards of Directors of eight public and private companies with sales from $30 million to $2.7 billion. As a director responsibilities covered all disciplines including finance, operations, marketing, compensation and strategic planning. Scott has worked at Solomon Brothers, Morgan Guaranty Trust Co., and Continental Bank. Education: B,A. Lake Forest College. Lake Forest, Illinois. Received prizes as the outstanding freshman and as the Outstanding Senior- President of Student Government, Managing Editor of College newspaper. Editor of Yearbook and College Scholar. MBA Amos Tuck School Dartmouth College in Finance. CIVIC: Formerly the Connecticut State Finance Chairman for Republican Party. Served two terms as director, then President and finally Chairman of the Boys & Girts Club of Greenwich. Just completed second and final term as a trustee of Lake Forest College. Has also served on the board of the Greenwich Land Trust, the Republican Town Committee, and was President of the Board of the Putnam Indian Field School and Chairman of the Properties Commission for Christ Church. He was Campaign manager for a U.S. Senate race and as Chairman of a successful race for State Treasurer.
Grant Gregory
NFLC MemberW. Grant Gregory founded Gregory & Hoenemeyer, Inc., a merchant banking and LBO firm headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut. He has particular expertise in mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, LBOs, IPOs, the design of new financial instruments, strategies to increase shareholder value, organization, human resources management and corporate finance. Mr. Gregory retired as Chairman of the Board after completing 24 years with Touche Ross & Co. He developed first-hand business experience in a wide range of industries and countries while servicing the 100 largest clients. Upon becoming Chairman of Touche Ross, Gregory was charged with the responsibility of insuring the firm’s U.S. performance. Mr. Gregory graduated with distinction from the University of Nebraska in 1964, where he was later awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, as well as The Builder Award, the University’s highest non-academic recognition. He has completed advanced management courses at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Business, at New York University, and attended the Air Force War College. An avid outdoorsman, Mr. Gregory’s special interests include golf, wildlife habitat management, skiing, sporting clays, fly-fishing and Labradors. Mr. Gregory is a member of the Blind Brook Club, Round Hill Club, GlenArbor Golf Club, The Links Club, Clove Valley, and Round Hill Community Church. Mr. Gregory, his wife, and family reside in Greenwich, Connecticut and Buffalo, Wyoming.
Spencer B. Haber
NFLC MemberSpencer B. Haber is Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of H/2 Capital Partners, a multi-billion dollar alternative investment management business in real estate. Mr. Haber was responsible for the Firm's formation, and oversees all aspects of the H/2 funds' investment, financing and risk management activities, with a primary emphasis on identifying and evaluating potential investments and managing risk. Mr. Haber was formerly President and a member of the Board of Directors of iStar Financial Inc. (NYSE: SFI), the largest independent commercial real estate finance company in the U.S. Having spent the past 18 years active across all aspects of real estate capital markets and investment finance, Mr. Haber is a recognized industry figure and has structured, originated or invested in a wide array of structured and corporate real estate fixed income instruments. Over that time, he has also developed wide-ranging relationships with the major market participants in the finance and real estate industries, and is a frequent speaker at real estate conferences, panels and other events. Mr. Haber holds a bachelors degree in economics summa cum laude and a masters degree in business administration from the Wharton School, where he graduated a Palmer Scholar. Mr. Haber is a member of various industry associations, including the Pension Real Estate Association, Urban Land Institute, Commercial Mortgage Securities Association, National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts and Wharton Real Estate Center. Mr. Haber lives in Greenwich, Connecticut, and is a member of the Boards of Directors of the Bruce Museum and the Greenwich Land Trust.
Andy Hasselwander
NFLC MemberAndy Hasselwander is Vice President, Analytics & Measurement, MarketBridge Corp. Mr. Hasselwander attended Colgate University in rural New York State where he focused on political science and biology, combining his interest in policy with hard science. Mr. Hasselwander received the Charles Oberheimer award for research excellence in biology, granted for his published research on snow algae. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa with honors in both of his majors, he joined a small start-up marketing strategy firm of around 30 consultants, Oxford Associates, as a Business Analyst. Mr. Hasselwander quickly progressed at the firm, which changed its name to MarketBridge in 2000, and was promoted four times in eight years. At MarketBridge, he has worked with marketing leaders at the Senior VP and CMO level at over 20 of the Fortune 500 in North America, Europe, and Asia, with a particular focus on the high-tech industry. In addition to his duties as Practice Area Leader, Mr. Hasselwander started and continues to lead the firm’s recruiting efforts at his alma mater, and serves on the five-person IT committee. In 2002, Mr. Hasselwander applied to the firm for full sponsorship in an Executive MBA program of his choosing. His application was granted, and he was accepted into NYU-Stern’s program for the fall of 2002. He went on to focus on management and marketing at Stern, and was particularly enthralled by opportunities to study the business cultures of Greece, Turkey and China up close and personal. Mr. Hasselwander thrived academically at the program, earning a GPA of 3.92 and graduating first in his class. Outside of his professional life, he stays involved in conservation efforts through his affiliations with Trout Unlimited, the Sierra Club and the Nature Conservancy. Mr. Hasselwander lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife Mary, an Acquisitions Editor for Congressional Quarterly. He spends his free time on the trail with a fly rod strapped to his backpack.
Joel Holtrop
NFLC MemberJoel Holtrop was named Deputy Chief for National Forest System, US Forest Service, in March of 2005. Mr. Holtrop is responsible for the management of approximately 192 million acres of National Forest System land and all programs and policies for National Forests and Grasslands throughout the United States. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Holtrop was the Deputy Chief for State and Private Forestry, US Forest Service, to which he was named in January of 2002. In this position, he was responsible for Fire and Aviation Management, Cooperative Forestry Programs, Forest Health Protection, Conservation Education, Urban and Community Forestry, and the Office of Tribal Relations. Mr. Holtrop is also the corporate lead for Sustainable Development and the Presidential Management Fellows Program. He is a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan and holds an undergraduate degree from Michigan State University (Forestry) and a graduate degree from University of Washington (Forest Management/Public Administration). Since 1976, Mr. Holtrop has held positions of increasing responsibility in the Forest Service. He worked in timber inventory on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in Washington State; in timber sale preparation on the Eldorado National Forest in California; as Assistant District Ranger on the Mt. Hood National Forest in Oregon; as District Ranger on the Hiawatha National Forest in Michigan; as Deputy Forest Supervisor on the Nicolet National Forest in Wisconsin; and as Forest Supervisor on the Flathead National Forest. In 1996, he came to Washington, D.C. as Deputy Director of Range Management Staff. In 2000, he became Director of Watershed, Fish, Wildlife, Air, and Rare Plants Staff, before becoming the Deputy Chief for State and Private Forestry.
Craig Mackey
NFLC MemberCraig Mackey is a public affairs and government relations consultant based in Golden, CO. Mr. Mackey serves as the national public policy liaison for Outward Bound Wilderness. Outward Bound is a 501(c)3, wilderness/adventure education organization serving young people and adults from across the United States and around the world. As policy liaison, Mr. Mackey works with Congress; the federal land agencies; conservation, recreation, and education NGOs; and the outdoor industry on policy and partnerships related to wilderness and public lands. Mr. Mackey is a consultant to the Outdoor Industry Association in negotiations with the State of Utah on outdoor recreation and protection of wilderness-quality lands left vulnerable by an April 2003 settlement between the state and the Department of the Interior. Mr. Mackey is a member of the National Leadership Council of the National Forest Foundation. He has 24 years experience in politics, government relations and public affairs. He is a founder of the Alliance for Wilderness Education and Stewardship [Outward Bound, Wilderness Inquiry, National Outdoor Leadership School, Student Conservation Association]; a member of the Government Affairs Committee of Leave No Trace, Inc.; and the Board of Governors of Outward Bound Wilderness. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Outdoor Industry Association (formerly ORCA); as chair of OIA’s Government Affairs Committee; and as a member of the Fixed Anchors in Wilderness Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
David McIntyre
NFLC MemberDavid McIntyre is a retired paper industry executive and was born in Munising, Michigan on the south shore of Lake Superior. His life long love of the outdoors began there and it was the opportunity to be outdoors and in the forest that attracted him to a career in the paper industry. Little did he know that a large portion of his career would be in New York City! He retired from Westvaco Corporation in 2002 where he was Group Vice President and General Manager of their Packaging Group. He also served as their Senior Vice President of Operations. David previously worked for Bowater Incorporated as Senior Vice President of Operations and prior to that worked in various technical and manufacturing positions with St. Regis, Champion, and Hammermill corporations.
David earned his B.A., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in chemistry from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. He also completed the Stanford University Executive Program. He served in many industry associations and was Chairman of the University of Maine Pulp and Paper Foundation, and on the Board of Trustees of the Institute of Paper Science and Technology. He and his wife Barbara (who he met skiing) enjoy skiing, hiking, biking, boating, and fishing (mostly by David) and spend a remarkable amount of time in our National Forests. They reside on Dewees Island, South Carolina.
Dr. Chris Risbrudt
NFLC MemberDr. Chris Risbrudt is Director of the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota and master’s and doctorate from Michigan State University. He has held numerous Washington Office and field leadership positions in the Forest Service. He is a member of the Society of American Foresters, Forest Products Society, and Technical Association of the Pulp & Paper Industry.
Dale Robertson
NFLC MemberDale Robertson was the 12th Chief of the Forest Service (1987 – 1993). He was a career Forest Service employee serving as Assistant District Ranger on the NF’s in Texas, District Ranger on the Ouachita NF in Oklahoma, and Forest Supervisor of the Siuslaw and Mt. Hood NF’s in Oregon. He spent about 20 years of his career in Washington D.C. in various jobs. He retired in 1993 and moved to Sedona, AZ. where he has been actively involved with the local Friends of the Forest, who are doing several conservation projects on the Coconino NF in partnership with the NFF. While Dale was Chief, he worked with the Congress to get legislation and funding to establish the NFF.
Hal Salwasser
Hal Salwasser is Professor of Forest Resources and Forest Science, Dean of the College of Forestry, and Director of the Oregon Forest Research Laboratory at Oregon State University. Prior to joining the College of Forestry in July 2000, Hal held numerous positions with the US Forest Service starting as Regional Wildlife Ecologist in California in 1979 and culminating as Regional Forester in the Northern Rockies and Research Station Director in California in the 1990s. He holds a PhD in Wildland Resource Science, majoring in wildlife and rangeland ecology, from the University of California, Berkeley and a BA degree in biology from Fresno State University. Hal has published more than 70 professional papers and book chapters and co-edited two books on natural resource issues. He was President of The Wildlife Society in 1993-94 and is a Fellow of the Society of American Foresters. Hal currently chairs the National Commission on Science for Sustainable Forestry and the Education Committee of the Boone and Crockett Club. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the World Forestry Center, the Board of Directors of the Oregon Forest Resources Institute, the National Advisory Board of the National Forest Foundation, and the Conservation Education Committee of the Oregon Garden.
Steve Schram
NFLC MemberSteve Schram, Chairman, DPS Sporting Club Development Company, LLC. Mr. Schram is responsible for strategic planning, new business development and operations. Before joining the company, he was President of the Boston Celtics Limited Partnership and Vice Chairman of the basketball team. In his first two years, he tripled the Celtics’ marketing and promotional revenue. Prior to that, he spent seven years as Vice President of Fixed Income for Morgan Stanley. Upon graduating from the University of Wyoming, he worked for U.S Senator Malcolm Wallop in Washington and earned an MBA/MPP from Duke University. President George W. Bush recently appointed Mr. Schram to the Board of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Mr. Schram’s interests include hunting, sailing, squash, golf and skiing.
Zaid Siddig
NFLC MemberZaid Siddig was born and raised in Germany as son of the then afghan ambassador to that country. He completed his education with a M.S. degree in Geology from the Technological University in Berlin, Germany. Moved to Afghanistan in 1967 to work for the Afghanistan Geological Survey as senior geologist, engaged in the survey of ore deposits throughout the entire country. From 1971-1980 he developed a one thousand acre farm in the Bakwa Desert in western Afghanistan but had to abandon the country in late 1980 due to the soviet invasion. After settling with his family in Greenwich, CT, he co-founded SpecTran Corp. a manufacturer of optical fiber, served on its board for ten years and worked as a private investor to date. Back in Afghanistan since early 2004 he is currently working on the planning and construction of a 600 Kw micro hydro power project in the countryside and established a tree nursery in a joint venture with over half a million fruit trees and evergreens, among them California pine and hybrid american poplar in our inventory to date.
Afghanistan's forests and orchards have been devastated during 25 years of war, making reforestation a top priority. For 9 years he has been an active member of the organizing committee for the annual NFF Sporting Clays Fundraiser, running the field operation at Sandanona and the Pawling Mountain Club in upstate NY. Throughout his entire life he has been an avid outdoors person, hunting and fishing and enjoying nature.
Tom Thompson
NFLC MemberTom Thompson is a native of Colorado and a 1968 graduate of the College of Forestry and Natural Resources at Colorado State University. Tom started his thirty-four (plus) years career with the U.S. Forest Service in Alaska with assignments on the Tongass National Forest, the Chugach National Forest, and the Institute of Northern Forestry, a unit of the Pacific Northwest Experiment Station. In 1975, Tom moved to the Mt. Hood National Forest and worked on two different ranger districts. In 1978, he was selected as a District Ranger on the Willamette National Forest. After five years in that position, he moved to the Legislative Affairs Staff in the national office in Washington, D.C., with principal responsibility for wilderness legislation. During his time in that position, wilderness bills were enacted for 22 states, designating over 163 new wildernesses. In 1985, Tom was selected to be Forest Supervisor of the Siuslaw National Forest, headquartered in Corvallis, Oregon. The Siuslaw is the major National Forest on the Oregon Coast and includes the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area and the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center. Tom was the Deputy Regional Forester for the Rocky Mountain Region from 1989 until 2OOl. The Rocky Mountain Region includes over 22 million acres on seventeen National Forests and seven National Grasslands in Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas. In October 2001, Tom was named Deputy Chief for the National Forest System. He is responsible for management of the 191 million acres of National Forest System land and all programs and policies for National Forests and Grasslands throughout the United States.
Mary Wagner
NFLC MemberMary Wagner was named the 21st Regional Forester for the Pacific Northwest Region of the U.S. Forest Service in August, 2008. She oversees 17 national forests and one national grassland within the states of Oregon and Washington comprising 24.7 million acres with approximately 3,600 employees and a budget of $457 million. She previously served as Deputy Regional Forester for the Intermountain Region of the Forest Service with oversight for Utah, Nevada, southern Idaho and eastern Wyoming. She succeeds Linda Goodman as Regional Forester. Goodman retired in March, 2008. Mary Wagner has served as the Forest Supervisor on the Dixie National Forest in Cedar City, Utah, and as Deputy Forest Supervisor and District Ranger on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada. She also was District Ranger on the Ashley National Forest in Utah. She began her career with the Forest Service in 1983 as a Forester on the Sawtooth National Forest in Idaho. Wagner holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Management and a Master of Science degree in Public Administration from the University of Utah. “Mary brings a breadth of leadership experience in natural resource management and state and private forestry,” said Chief Abigail Kimbell. “She set a precedent as the first National Director of Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers in Washington, DC. Mary will be an excellent Regional Forester and an outstanding addition to the national leadership of the Forest Service.”
Leslie Weldon
NFLC MemberLeslie is currently the Director of External Affairs located within the Office of the Chief for the US Forest Service in Washington D.C. and assumed this Senior Executive Service leadership role in June, 2007. From June 2000 through June 2007, Leslie served as Forest Supervisor for the Deschutes National Forest in Bend, Oregon. An Air Force kid, Leslie was born in 1961 in Pullman, WA, lived over seas and in several states, but raised primarily in Oxon Hill, Maryland, outside of Washington, DC. Her choice of natural resources as a career was greatly influenced by two high school summers working with the Youth Conservation Corps working on the Blue Ridge Parkway in southwest Virginia. From 1998 – 2000, Leslie served as Executive Policy Assistant to Forest Service Chief Mike Dombeck. Prior to this assignment, Leslie served with the Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry as Forest Service Liaison to the US Army Environmental Center at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Leslie served as District Ranger on the Stevensville Ranger District, Bitterroot National Forest from 1992 – 1996 where she led extensive local public involvement program to implement collaborative, ecosystem-based management of forestlands adapted to fire. Special assignments have included co-chair of the Forest Service National Workforce Diversity Conference in 1990, coordinator of the Forest Service International Programs “Sister Forest” partnership between the Bitterroot National Forest and Nahuel Huapi and Lanin National Parks in Patagonia, Argentina in 1996. She has participated on numerous national and international technical and policy review teams, including leading the US Delegation at the recent 5th Ministerial Conference on Forest in Europe. All of her work has involved identifying shared goals and working closely with partners from academia, conservation and environmental groups, community groups, local government, and natural resource related businesses. She is committed to workforce diversity, leadership development and civil rights. Her other positions have included: Assistant National Fisheries Program Manager (87-89), Washington Office, Regional Staff Biologist (89-91), Missoula, MT. Leslie’s positions have given her leadership experience and exposure to all aspects of Forest Service programs and management from national to local levels. Leslie served on several boards and organizations including local Roman Catholic Churches, Bend High Desert Rotary Club (05-06 President), Heritage Theatre Company (06-07 President), The High Desert Museum (02-07 federal liaison) and on the Deschutes United Way and Oregon Museum of Science and Industry Boards. She currently works with the Pinchot Institute for Conservation and the National Forest Foundation Advisory Council.