USDA / USFS Announces New Leadership in California

Thursday, October 21, 2010

USDA / USFS Announces New Leadership in California

Regional Forester Randy Moore is proud to welcome Jeanne Wade Evans, Daniel Jiron and Ronald Ketter, all of whom will serve as deputy regional foresters for the national forests of California.

Jeanne Wade Evans, supervisor at the San Bernardino National Forest since October 2005, will move to the regional level to oversee fire and aviation management as well as state and private forestry. Prior to her assignments in California, she held three positions in the Forest Service Washington Office, including policy specialist for fire management (hazardous fuels), deputy director for forest and rangelands, and natural resource specialist for rangeland stewardship. Wade Evans also served as a district ranger and range conservationist for the Coronado National Forest in Arizona. She earned a bachelor's degree in environmental resources and agriculture from Arizona State University in 1977.

Wade Evans replaces Jim Peña who left in August to become associate deputy chief of the National Forest System in Washington, D.C.

Daniel Jiron, supervisor of Santa Fe National Forest in New Mexico since December 2006, arrives to serve as deputy regional forester of resources. Previously, Jiron served as national press officer in Washington, D.C., director of communications and legislative affairs for the Intermountain Region (Ogden, Utah) and as district ranger for the Salt Lake Ranger District in Utah and South Park Ranger District in Colorado.

He also served as an aide to U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell. He earned a bachelor's degree from Colorado State University in 1986 and a master's degree from Regis University-Jesuit in 1997.

Jiron replaces Beth Pendleton who left in August to become regional forester for national forests in Alaska.##Ronald Ketter, the new deputy regional forester for operations, comes by way of the Forest Service Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he was assistant director of strategic planning, budget and accountability.

Ketter's Forest Service experience includes director of strategic planning and performance accountability, assistant budget director and budget branch chief, all at the Washington headquarters. His extensive experience also includes holding positions as research analyst, environmental policy consultant and senior budget and legislative analyst with the Office of Management and Budget as well as program evaluator with the U.S. General Accounting Office. Ketter has also taught budget, research and evaluation methods as an assistant professor at the university level. He has had temporary assignments as acting director of strategic planning, budget and accountability in 2009 and as deputy station director for the Rocky Mountain Research Station in 2008. He earned a bachelor's degree in Public Policy in 1981 from Emporia State University, a master's degree in public affairs in 1986 from University of Texas at Austin, and a doctorate in political science in 1996 from Binghamton University. He also earned a certificate in executive leadership skills in 2008 from American University.

Ketter replaces Angela Coleman who left in July to become associate deputy chief of research and development at the Forest Service headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The 18 national forests in California are collectively known as Region 5 of the National Forest System. Region 5 also includes responsibility and oversight of state and private forestry in Hawaii and U.S. territories in the Pacific.

Source: USFS - VALLEJO, California
Oct. 20, 2010 - US Forest Service Press Release

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How fires get their names

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Thursday, October 21, 2010