File Code:	6130	Date:	October 19, 2007	
Route To:	 	
		
Subject:	Leadership Changes   	
		
To:	Regional Foresters, Station Directors, Area Director, IITF Director, Deputy Chiefs and WO Directors   	

I am pleased to announce several changes in our leadership.  Dr. Jim Reaves will replace Peter J. Roussopoulos, Station Director for Southern Research Station (SRS) who has announced his retirement effective January 3, 2008. 
Dr. Jim Reaves has served as Associate Deputy Chief for Research & Development since early 2006.  As Associate Deputy Chief, he provides national leadership over Research and Development programs and enhancing external partnerships.  Prior to becoming Associate Deputy Chief, Jim was Staff Director for Forest Management Sciences in Washington.  Jim’s career spans 26 years in the Forest Service. 
David A. Cleaves, currently the Station Director, Rocky Mountain Research Station has been selected as Associate Deputy Chief for Research and Development (ADC-R&D).  Dave was formerly staff director in Washington, D.C. and also served as National Program Leader for Fire Systems Research.  Prior to his headquarters positions, he was a research project leader in fire economics and management in Riverside, California and a professor of forest marketing and economics at Oregon State University.  
George S. (Sam) Foster, Ph.D. has accepted the position of Station Director, Rocky Mountain Research Station.  Sam has been the Director, Resource Use Science Research Staff, in Washington, D.C. since November 2005.  Prior to that Sam served as the National Program Leader, Silviculture and Genetics Research.  During his career, Sam served in academic positions as Dean-College of Forest Resources/Director-Forest and Wildlife Research and as Professor, Department of Forestry at Mississippi State University. 

I am also pleased to announce Fred Norbury as my advisor for issues related to climate change.  I expect Fred to help us incorporate an awareness of climate change in our thinking and to help us identify appropriate responses to climate change in all our program areas:  R&D, S&PF, NFS, Ops, and CFO.  This will involve all of us taking a fresh look at things like our program planning and budget advice, our strategic planning, our program delivery, our day to day administrative operations, and our interaction with the public and our partners.  This is a temporary position and will only last as long as it takes for us to embed our response to the climate change challenge in our normal operations.  Meanwhile, due to the critical nature of the Associate Deputy position that Fred is leaving, we will be taking steps to fill it on a permanent basis as soon as possible.

While Fred will begin his new assignment immediately, Jim, Dave, and Sam will report to their new positions in early January.  Please join me in wishing them success in their new assignments and in wishing Pete the very best in his upcoming retirement.    

	
/s/ Abigail R. Kimbell	
ABIGAIL R. KIMBELL	
Chief