Office of the Chief

Gail Kimbell Chief (Biography)

Welcome to the web site of the U.S. Forest Service Chief’s Office! In case you’re new to the Forest Service, our purpose is twofold: (1) to make sure that America’s forests and grasslands are in the healthiest condition they can be; and (2) to see to it that you have lots of opportunities to use, enjoy, and care for the lands and waters that sustain us all. Our focus at the Forest Service is on the ground—on the places where you live, work, and play. Above all, we’re dedicated to keeping everyone on the ground safe and secure. Our goal is to serve our communities, both rural and urban. One way is to work with partners for healthy, resilient forests and rangelands on federal, state, and private lands. Healthy lands support the outdoor activities of millions of Americans each year, a service we proudly provide on the National Forest System. A central concern for all Americans is sustainable land management. We owe it to ourselves and to future generations to protect our communities, properties, and wildland resources from catastrophic fire and other threats. You own your national forests and grasslands, and we are here to serve you. As you browse our website, please think of ways we can better serve you and let us know.

Hank Kashdan Associate Chief (Biography)

Chief's Office Staff

Chief's Biography

Abigail (Gail) R. Kimbell became the 16th Chief of the Forest Service on February 4, 2007. As Chief, Kimbell has focused the agency’s attention on climate change, water, and kids, emphasizing the importance of keeping forests and rangelands healthy.

Kimbell grew up in New England, where she spent her formative years hiking, fishing, and camping on the White Mountain National Forest. She received a bachelor’s degree in forest management from the University of Vermont in 1974 and a master’s degree in forest engineering from Oregon State University in 1982.

She started her federal forestry career as a seasonal employee in 1973. She was a forester with the Bureau of Land Management in Medford, OR, and joined the Forest Service as a presale forester in Kodiak, AK. She has worked as a logging engineer, district planner, district ranger, and forest supervisor in positions in Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Wyoming, and Colorado.

In May 2002, Kimbell moved to national headquarters as the associate deputy chief for the National Forest System. In December 2003, Kimbell was named as the Regional Forester for the Northern Region based in Missoula, MT.

Kimbell and her husband, Ed Stryker, enjoy the great outdoors by camping, fishing, hiking, skiing, and flying. Ed is a pilot and a retired land surveyor. They have two miniature schnauzers.

Kimbell is a member of the Society of American Foresters.

Associate Chief's Biography

Hank Kashdan’s Forest Service career has covered 35 years of service throughout the breadth of duty stations in which the Forest Service operates.

• Graduated from Humboldt State University, Arcata, California, with a Bachelor’s Degree in 1973.
• Started as a GS-3 Survey Technician in 1973, doing land line and road surveys on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon for the Kaibab National Forest.
• Worked in duty stations throughout the country in Arizona, Northern Idaho, Montana, Washington State, California, and Oregon prior to coming to Washington D.C. in 1993.
• Worked in a variety of positions including survey technician, ranger district administrative assistant, timber sale contracting officer, forest administrative officer, assistant director in law enforcement, and director of the Budget Staff, and Deputy Chief for Business Operations.
• Was Administrative Officer on two national forests ranging from one of the smallest (Beaverhead National Forest) to the largest in the National Forest System (Willamette National Forest).
• Spent two years as a detailed staff to the United States Senate, Committee on Appropriations, Interior and Related Agencies Subcommittee.
• Was the Director of Program and Budget Analysis for the Forest Service from 2000 through 2005.
• Served as Deputy Chief for Business Operations for the past three years, and was just appointed to the position of Associate Chief.