The Forest Service Chief is announcing today that Gordie Blum will serve as Acting Regional Forester for the Eastern Region, effective May 1, 2025, and that Ben Newburn will serve as Acting Regional Forester for the Intermountain Region, effective April 28, 2025. Blum will temporarily succeed Regional Forester Tony Dixon as he reaches his retirement date after 34 years of dedicated service. Newburn will temporarily succeed Regional Forester Mary Farnsworth, who is retiring after 38 years of dedicated service.
Gordie Blum Bio:
Gordie Blum comes to the Eastern Region from his position as director of Recreation, Heritage and Volunteer Services in the USDA Forest Service Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Gordie has over 30 years of federal service. After serving in the U.S. Army from 1991-1997, he began his career with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Chicago, Illinois before joining the Forest Service in 2000 as the communications director for the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin. He has also been a legislative affairs specialist in Washington, D.C., the deputy and acting forest supervisor on the Willamette National Forest in Eugene, OR, Pacific Northwest Region Recreation, Lands and Minerals Director in Portland, and Eastern Region Recreation Director. Throughout his career he has served in numerous acting leadership assignments; including USDA Natural Resources and Environment liaison, deputy director of Fire and Aviation Management, and acting forest supervisor on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
Gordie has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin, and a Master of Arts from the State University of New York. He is also a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute, and the USDA Senior Executive Service program. A father of two and husband to his wife for 30 years, Gordie enjoys all sorts of outdoor activities and doing restoration work on their property in southern Wisconsin.
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Ben Newburn Bio:
Ben Newburn has been selected as acting regional forester for the Intermountain Region, following his role as the region’s director of Fire & Aviation Management since 2021.
Newburn attended Eastern Washington University where he earned a degree in biological sciences with an emphasis in botany. He brings over 25 years of land management experience to the position, gained through his work with both the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service. His previous roles include deputy forest supervisor, deputy regional director, and various positions in Fire & Aviation Management in Montana, Washington, California, and Utah. He has also served as an incident commander on several significant and complex incidents.
Ben, his wife and their young son enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, traveling, and sports. In his free time, Ben renovates their home in Ogden, Utah.
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Congratulations to both. Thanks for your public service. Our lands need you and your leadership. My wish, as you encounter wildfires this year, “first put them out.” No more “managed” wildfire. Please, encourage your new Chief to send this clear direction out to all in his annual “Chief’s Letter of Intent for Wildfires.” What a great leadership message that will make to the American people.
Very respectfully,