Forest Service selects woman to lead Olympic

Reta Laford, currently serving as the deputy forest supervisor for the Coronado National Forest in Arizona, has been named the new supervisor for Olympic National Forest.

Laford, who has worked in the Northwest before, will replace Dale Hom, who retired in June. Amanda McAdams has been acting forest supervisor since June and will be replaced by Laford on Sept. 17.

“We are excited to welcome Reta to the Pacific Northwest Regional Leadership Team,” regional forester Kent Connaughton said in a prepared statement.

“Having worked at many levels of the organization, Reta brings a rich breadth of experience, which will benefit the Olympic National Forest and local communities,” he added. “In addition to her background in natural resource management, Reta is skilled at developing partnerships and working across boundaries.”

In addition to three temporary forest supervisor assignments in the Tonto, Coronado and Prescott national forests, Laford brings perspectives from all levels of the agency. Prior to pursuing field leadership, she worked in the Washington office as a Legislative Fellow, environmental coordinator, and appeals and litigation specialist. Laford worked in the Eastern Regional Office in the NEPA, Appeals and Litigation program areas.

Her career started as a student trainee on the Murphy Lake and Rexford Ranger Districts of the Kootenai National Forest in 1984. Before joining the Forest Service, Laford volunteered three summers with the Student Conservation Association, including a stint at Olympic National Park.