What role will Tom Tidwell be playing in the US Forest Service?
Tom Tidwell of Montana, who rose from district ranger to regional forest supervisor, is the new chief of the U.S. Forest Service. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack named Tidwell to the post Wednesday. Tidwell currently heads the 25 million-acre Northern Region of the Forest Service, which encompasses 12 forests in Montana, northern Idaho, northeastern Washington and grasslands in the Dakotas. He’s the third consecutive chief to be picked from the region, which is based in Missoula. “To see another person from Montana become chief is quite exciting for us,” Northern Region spokeswoman Rose Davis said. Tidwell replaces Forest Chief Gail Kimbell, appointed during the Bush administration, who also headed the Northern Region, as did Dale Bosworth, who preceded her under the Clinton administration. “Tom Tidwell’s 32 years of experience in our forests and impressive track record of collaboration and problem-solving will help us tackle the great challenges ahead,” Vilsack said. Tidwell’s “prin
