OLYMPIA — Kelly Lawrence, the former Naches District Ranger on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, is the new Olympic National Forest supervisor.
Lawrence took over Tuesday.
“Kelly brings a strong commitment to collaboration and partnership to the Olympic National Forest,” said Pacific Northwest Regional Forester Glenn Casamassa in a press release.
“Her interest in fostering robust community relationships will help sustain the natural resources and landscapes of the Olympic National Forest for generations to come.”
Originally from Portland, Ore., Lawrence has served the past 17 years with the Forest Service in research, partnerships, planning and as a district ranger.
Her duty stations have included the Coconino, Fremont-Winema and Okanogan-Wenatchee national forests, as well as the Pacific Northwest Research Station.
She began her career in federal service as an environmental education volunteer with the Peace Corps in Kazakhstan, and she returned from a trip to Cambodia and Vietnam in January with the AgForestry Leadership program.
“My experience with AgForestry led me down many roads and opened doors to a wider understanding of challenges faced by agriculture, forestry and land management agencies,” Lawrence said in the release.
“I look forward to bringing this knowledge to the beautiful Olympic National Forest, and working with our partners for the greater good of our natural resources.”
Lawrence enjoys traveling with her two girls, Alma, 10, and Hanna, 8. She spends her free time camping, kayaking, hiking, skiing, cooking and eating local food.
The Olympic National Forest, with headquarters in Olympia, encompasses the varied landscape of the Olympic Peninsula from rain forests to high mountain ridges to ocean beaches.
The Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region consists of 16 national forests, 59 district offices, a National Scenic Area, and a National Grassland comprising 24.7 million acres in Oregon and Washington and employing about 3,550 people.
To learn more about the USDA Forest Service in the Pacific Northwest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/r6.
