WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) announced Randy Moore as the new USFS chief. Former Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen will retire at the end of July after more than 40 years as a professional forester, wildland firefighter and land manager. House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) issued the following statement in response:
"As a forester myself, I'm very familiar with the challenges facing American forestry and the need for a seasoned professional to lead the USFS. Mr. Moore is bringing new experiences and ideas to the table, and I sincerely hope we can work together on mitigating catastrophic wildfires, opening up our national forests to sustainable lumber harvesting, making forests more resilient against insects and diseases and much more. I'd also like to thank Ms. Christiansen for her years of dedicated service and thoughtful investment in forests, both in my district and across the country. We have an incredible responsibility to steward these rich resources well, and I look forward to creating solutions together."
ABOUT RANDY MOORE
Randy Moore has been serving as Regional Forester in the Pacific Southwest Region in California since 2007 where he has responsibility for 18 national forests, covering one-fifth of the state on 20 million acres of land. Additionally, he oversees State and Private Forestry programs in Hawaii and the U.S. affiliated Pacific Islands.
Previously, Moore served as the Regional Forester for the Eastern Region headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisc., for five years.
Moore started his career in conservation in 1978 with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in North Dakota. His Forest Service career began on the Pike and San Isabel National Forests in Colorado and the Comanche and Cimarron National Grasslands in Kansas. He served as Deputy Forest Supervisor on the National Forests of North Carolina and the Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri before serving as Forest Supervisor of the Mark Twain National Forest. Moore also has national-level experience in Washington, D.C., serving as acting Associate Deputy Chief for the National Forest System and the National Deputy Soils Program Manager.
Moore earned a bachelor’s degree in plant and soil science from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He and his wife Antoinette have two sons, a daughter-in-law, and two grandsons.