Forest Supervisor Tom Montoya is retiring

BAKER CITY – (Release from Wallowa-Whitman National Forest) After 36 years with the Forest Service, including 10 years in Baker City with the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Tom Montoya is ready to begin a new chapter in life. His first day of retirement will be Tuesday, June 1, which happens to closely align with the same day he started his career in 1985.

Tom has served as the Forest Supervisor since October 2014 and, before that, Deputy Forest Supervisor starting in August 2011. “I feel so fortunate for the last 10 years as your Forest Supervisor and Deputy Forest Supervisor here on the ‘Wonderful’ Wallowa-Whitman,” said Montoya. “It has been humbling and inspiring to work with so many great people, both internal and external to the Forest Service, who serve the public in the stewardship of this special place.”

Starting out as a Range Conservationist with the Humboldt National Forest from 1985 to 1990, Tom then served as a Fish Biologist until 2001 with the Humboldt, Ochoco, and Salmon-Challis National Forests. Between 2001 and 2011, Tom served as a District Ranger with the Salmon-Challis and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests before moving to Baker City as the Deputy Forest Supervisor of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. He has now been the Wallowa-Whitman Forest Supervisor for the last six and a half years.

 “It really has been amazing to work for an agency whose mission I truly believe in and feel honored to be a part of. Thank you all for the opportunity.”

 Anthony Botello, Deputy Forest Supervisor, will be the Acting Forest Supervisor until a new Forest Supervisor is selected. “Tom will be dearly missed by our employees,” Botello observed. “He has embodied the Forest Service values of service, interdependence, and conservation, and he has led by example in many respects, above all by treating everyone with respect. I’m confident that Tom’s legacy and example will guide us for many years to come.

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Elkhorn Media Group