Elkins, W.Va.– Forest Supervisor Shawn Cochran has selected Aaron Kendall to serve as the new Fire Management Officer on Monongahela National Forest.
“Aaron brings a diverse set of skills and more than 20 years of fire management experience to this critical position on Monongahela National Forest,” said Cochran. “I’m looking forward to seeing how he grows the fire management program, working with our partners across the state.”
Kendall will oversee the fire management program, including hazardous fuels management, prescribed burning, and wildland fire management on more than 900,000 acres of National Forest System lands in West Virginia. As the Forest’s fire management officer, he will coordinate with state and local organizations, communities, landowners, and others on the shared stewardship of Monongahela National Forest.
“I enjoy working with communities and partners to maintain, protect and restore our Forest lands so that we can all continue to enjoy the beauty and serenity they provide,” said Aaron. “I’m excited about the possibilities for future collaboration and coordination here in West Virginia.”
Kendall has extensive experience in wildland fire management and has worked in the field for more than 20 years in both California and Arizona, most recently as a district fire management officer on the Los Padres National Forest. He has also worked as a training officer, district ranger, engine captain, and wildland fire operations specialist, in both national parks and national forests such as the Tonto National Forest, Joshua Tree National Park, Mojave National Preserve, and the San Bernardino National Forest.
Kendall studied forest management at Oregon State University, and enjoys outdoor activities such as fishing, hunting, skiing, hiking and camping. He will reside in Elkins with his wife Ginny.
The mission of the USDA Forest Service and Monongahela National Forest is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages the 193 million acres of National Forest System land, provides stewardship assistance to non-federal forest landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world.
For more information about Monongahela National Forest visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/mnf.