ELKINS, W.Va., – Regional Forester Kathleen Atkinson has selected Shawn Cochran as the new Forest Supervisor for Monongahela National Forest, effective Feb. 17. Shawn has served the last two years as Deputy Forest Supervisor on the Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas. He replaces Clyde Thompson who will retire Jan. 3, 2019.
“We are happy that Shawn has accepted the position of Forest Supervisor on the Monongahela,” said Atkinson. “His diverse background will help to continue to build on the solid foundation that Clyde Thompson and his staff have built.”
Cochran has more than 17 years of service with the USDA Forest Service. He has worked as an Ecosystems Staff Officer on the Ozark St.- Francis National Forest in Arkansas, a District Ranger on the Huron-Manistee National Forest in Michigan, acting District Ranger on the Ottawa National Forest, acting Forest Biologist on the National Forests in Florida and as a District Biologist on the Ouachita National Forest.
Cochran holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Environmental Science from Southern Nazarene University in Oklahoma. He received his Masters of Science degree in Biology from Arkansas State University, with thesis work on the roosting ecology and habitat use of Rafinesque’s big-eared bat in the bottomland hardwood forests of eastern Arkansas.
Shawn is from Ft. Smith, Arkansas, and enjoys spending time on his family’s farm with his wife, Keri, and their children, Silas, Samuel and Sara.
For information about Monongahela National Forest visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/mnf.
