NEWS RELEASE USDA Forest Service Washington, D.C.
FS-0315	Contact: Joe Walsh, (202) 205-1134

FOREST SERVICE NAMES NEW DIRECTOR FOR MINERALS AND GEOLOGY MANAGEMENT

WASHINGTON, D.C., Jul. 30, 2003 - U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth today appointed Marvin "Skip" Underwood, Jr. as the director of the agency's Minerals and Geology Management staff. Underwood is currently the director of the Physical Resources staff in the Forest Service's Rocky Mountain Region in Denver, Colo. As national director, Underwood will be responsible for leadership in minerals management, geology programs and energy development from oil, gas and coal resources on National Forest lands.

"As the director of the Rocky Mountain Region's Physical Resources program since March 1997, Underwood has demonstrated strong leadership in minerals and geology programs including energy development and has an excellent understanding of those issues from a field perspective, which is critical," said Bosworth. "The Minerals and Geology Program manages resources that are critical to the welfare of our country and Skip has an excellent track record of developing internal and external partnerships to support agency objectives, which will be important in working with the wide variety of interests and stakeholders involved in these programs."

Prior to his current position, Underwood was forest supervisor of the Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland. Earlier assignments included leading a team studying water development to serve the Denver Metropolitan area and three years as a district ranger on the Pike National Forest also in Colorado. He began his Forest Service career in the Southern Region in 1971 after graduating from Virginia Tech with a bachelor of science degree in forestry and wildlife. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and after three years of active duty, served in the Army Reserve for 23 years retiring with the rank of colonel in 1994.

"I'm honored to be chosen to lead the Minerals and Geology Management Program and I'm eager to begin this assignment. The nation is facing major challenges in energy development and use of other mineral resources on public lands and I'm looking forward to these challenges," said Underwood.

Underwood will report in late August and replace Larry Gadt the former director of Minerals and Geology Management who retired last year.

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US Forest Service
Last Modified:  Thursday, 14 August 2003 at 15:49:36 EDT
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