Idaho Capital Sun—Tom Schultz will serve as the 21st chief of the U.S. Forest Service, which oversees 154 national forests and 20 grasslands across 43 states. Schultz previously was the vice president of resources and government affairs at Idaho Forest Group, a family-owned company based in Coeur d’Alene that is now one of the country’s largest lumber producers.
“Working with our partners,” Schultz said in a press release, “we will actively manage national forests and grasslands, increase opportunities for outdoor recreation, and suppress wildfires with all available resources emphasizing safety and the importance of protecting resource values.”