Former Montana DNR Staffer and Air Force Officer Chosen as Next Forest Service Chief
By Joe Friedrichs
Idaho resident Tom Schultz will be the next chief of the United States Forest Service.
He was appointed today by U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. Schultz takes over one day after outgoing Forest Service Chief Randy Moore announced his retirement.
“Tom is the right person to lead the Forest Service right now, and I know he will fight every day to restore America’s national forests,” Rollins said. “Together, Tom and the incredible employees at the Forest Service will work to execute the agenda of President Donald J. Trump to make America’s forests healthy and productive again.”
Schultz previously served as vice president of resources and government affairs at Idaho Forest Group, where he led timber procurement operations and managed relationships with government officials at all levels. A former U.S. Air Force officer, Schultz also served as director of the Idaho Department of Lands, overseeing the management of several million surface acres of endowment lands and minerals. He held leadership roles in Montana’s Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, managing the Trust Lands and Water Resources Divisions.
Schultz holds a bachelor’s degree in government from the University of Virginia, a master’s degree in political science from the University of Wyoming, and a master’s degree in forestry from the University of Montana.
“I will work tirelessly to further support and protect our rural communities. Working with our partners, we will actively manage national forests and grasslands, increase opportunities for outdoor recreation, and suppress wildfires with all available resources emphasizing safety and the importance of protecting resource values,” Schultz said.
The Forest Service chief is responsible for the leadership and success in accomplishing the mission of the Forest Service. Established in 1905, the Forest Service manages 154 national forests, including Superior National Forest and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The agency is the “foremost leader in federal forest management, research, and development and wildland firefighting,” according to information shared today from the USDA.
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