From the Missoulian
Tom Tidwell is New Forest Service Chief
The agency's new leader has spent two years overseeing public land in Montana, Idaho and North Dakota.
By Amy Linn, 6-17-09
The new Chief of the U.S. Forest Service will be Tom Tidwell, the Region 1 Forest Supervisor, according to a Missoulian news story by reporter Rob Chaney. Tidwell is the third leader from the Missoula-based regional headquarters to be tapped for the agency’s top post, Chaney reports.
In February 2007, the U.S. Forest Service promoted Tidwell to regional forester for the Northern Region, which includes more than 25 million acres of public land in Montana, Idaho and North Dakota. Prior to the promotion, Tidwell had been deputy regional forester in the Pacific Southwest Region.
According to the press announcement today from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Tidwell comes to the job with 32 years of forestry experience in a variety of different jobs. “His impressive track record of collaboration and problem-solving will help us tackle the great challenges ahead,” Vilsack said.
The press release says Tidwell started his Forest Service career on the Boise National Forest “and has since worked in eight different national forests, across three regions.” To read more from the Department of Agriculture, click here.
[End of article]
A career man will head the BLM and now a career man will head the Forest Service. I like the way Obama is removing--or at least reducing--politics in public land management and returning leadership to the career professionals. I imagine the choice of Tidwell disappoints the environmental community who were likely hoping for a firebrand.
Comment By Mal Adapted, 6-18-09@Desertographer,
I'm afraid you'll be the one who's disappointed. From the AP wire yesterday:
"Michael Francis, acting vice president of The Wilderness Society, called Tidwell a good choice. He said Tidwell has been a strong supporter of protecting wild lands, including roadless areas in remote forests."
The head of the Forest Service is always career. The last two chiefs were the Region 1 Forester before being promoted as well, the same position Tidwell previously held. Tidwell positions and priorities are not substantially different from Gail Kimbell's, the outgoing chief. This is just a change in leadership style and a change of faces for the new administration.
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