Southwestern Region

New Gila National Forest Supervisor Selected

ALBUQUERQUE (August 17, 2007) -  Regional Forester Harv Forsgren announced today the selection of Richard “Dick” Markley as the new Forest Supervisor for the Gila National Forest in southwestern New Mexico.  “Dick brings a wealth of experience in fire and fuels as well as with collaborating with numerous individuals and groups on forest stewardship projects,” stated Forgren.  “His knowledge and experience will be a great asset to the forest and the Southwestern Region,” he added.  Dick will begin in his new job on September 30.

Dick is a 29-year veteran of the U.S. Forest Service and has worked in California, Idaho, and Oregon in various positions.  He is currently the Deputy Forest Supervisor for the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest in northeastern Oregon. 

Prior to his assignment on the Wallowa-Whitman NF in 2004, Dick was a District Ranger in Idaho on the Boise National Forest (1999-2004) and in California (1998-1999) on the Tahoe National Forest.  While in Idaho, Dick initiated an extensive fire recovery and forest health recovery program, and was a leader in developing and implementing stewardship projects in the ponderosa pine forests of that region.  He became a Type 1 Information Officer in 1999 and has since been a member of two national incident management teams in California and the Great Basin. 

Dick received a master’s degree in Anthropology from California State University, Chico and completed graduate work in forestry at the University of Nevada, Reno.  

Dick and his wife Gail are looking forward to exploring the forest and meeting folks in the community.  Dick enjoys hunting with his retriever, Rocky, and fly fishing. 

Regional Forester Harv Forsgren acknowledges the great job Mike Frazier has done while serving as Acting Forest Supervisor on the Gila National Forest for almost five months.  “Mike’s 36 years of resource management experience plus his excellent interpersonal skills enabled the Forest to experience an easy transition during the absence of a Forest Supervisor,” he stated.

Gila National Forest Engineer Danny Montoya will serve as the Acting Forest Supervisor until Dick Markley arrives.  Through several years of his Gila career, Montoya knows the local communities well and the Forest needs and activities and will serve the forest well.