Shane DeForest named Bureau of Land Management Vale District Manager
By Garrett Christensen on Thursday, October 12th, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
VALE — Shane DeForest, who has been Deputy District Deputy Manager for Vale Bureau of Land Management for the past 8 years, is taking the helm as District Manager.
“It is my pleasure to announce the selection of Shane DeForest as Vale District Manager,” said Barry Bushue, BLM Oregon-Washington State Director. “For more than 30 years throughout the West, he has collaborated with employees and partners alike to translate trust, credibility, and a positive safety culture into results on the ground.
DeForest has served as acting District Manager since May, when former District Manager Wayne Monger relocated to Arizona. He joined the Vale District in 2015.
“I look forward to strengthening and expanding relationships with all of our customers and stakeholders,” DeForest said. “We have a tremendous foundation of common ground already in that we all appreciate and value the public lands and all that it has to offer. We can accomplish some great things together.”
He joined the Vale District as deputy district manager in 2015. Some of the challenges before the district include implementation of the Southeastern Oregon Resource Management Plan Amendment, a significant increase in mining exploration and operations and exponential growth in recreation.
“The Vale District has an amazing team of professionals who are dedicated to the mission of the BLM, and it’s humbling to have this opportunity to lead them as we work on some very complicated projects,” DeForest said.
A Nevada native, he earned his bachelor’s degree in wildlife from the University of Nevada – Reno. He began his BLM career in 1991 as a wildlife intern with the Nevada BLM’s Elko District, then took a permanent position with the Winnemucca District.
Over the years, DeForest has held positions in weeds, wild horse and burro and fuels, worked as an assistant field manager for renewable resources (range) and as a field manager in the Pinedale (Wyo.) and Surprise (Calif.) field offices.
He is married and has two grown children who live in Salmon, Idaho and Nevada City, Calif. The Vale District manages approximately 5.1 million acres of public land along the Snake River between Oregon and Idaho, including small sections of Washington and Nevada.
