Forest Service Selects More Senior Leadership: Mostly Old Hands

Here’s the link. By the way, I meant “old” in the headline in the sense of “experienced” and “wise.”

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Many of today’s appointments will be familiar names. Nearly all have been selected from the Forest Service’s existing senior executive cadre, with one exception joining us from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. With these decisions, we have now placed the remaining members of our senior executive team. Any career SES positions that remain vacant on the new organizational chart will be actively recruited, internally and externally.

These assignments are another important step in putting our new organizational model to work. We have strong leaders across the Forest Service, and these assignments put their experience and expertise where they can make the greatest difference for our forests, our employees and the communities we serve.

These leaders show true commitment to not only the new organizational structure but also to the legacy and importance of the history of the Forest Service, as well to every employee and discipline contributing to the success of our mission.

They know this agency, they understand the challenges facing our forests and communities, and they recognize the importance of working closely with states, partners and tribes. There is a lot of important work ahead, and I am excited about what we can accomplish together.

The following leaders have been reassigned (names in italics represent current position and any title changes):

• Jaelith Hall-Rivera, chief of staff
• Beattra Wilson, deputy chief of staff
• Katie O’Connor, deputy chief of Strategy Management
• Mark Lichtenstein, deputy chief of Strategic Planning, Budget, and Accountability
• Andria Weeks, deputy chief of Finance and Administration
• Jennifer McGuire, associate chief of Finance and Audit
• Erica Nieto, director of Human Resources
• Lisa Northrop, director of Business Services Center
• John Rothlisberger, director of Field Operations Support Center
• Valerie Hipkins, acting director of Research and Development
• Richard Barhydt, deputy director of Research and Development
• Linda Heath, deputy director of Research and Development
• Lisa Ramirez, director of Job Corps
• Karen Woodrich, director of Cooperative Forestry
• Ellen Shultzabarger, deputy chief of Field Operations East
• Jacqueline “Jacque” Buchanan, state director of Oregon
• Troy Heithecker, state director of Colorado
• Kristin Bail, state director of New Mexico
• Gordon Blum, state director of Lake States
• Michelle Samuel-Foo, state director of Ozark/Gulf Coast

A full list of biographies is now available.

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