University of Montana Graduate Takes Helm of U.S. Forest Service

A UM graduate named Chief of the U.S. Forest Service? That's right! A former UM student is leading the charge on the management of America’s national forests and public lands.

Schultz isn’t a bureaucrat in a cubicle. He’s got deep ties to forestry, beginning right here in Montana. Following graduation with his master’s degree in forestry from UM, he spent his professional career working for the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. Then, he took over the Idaho Department of Lands. He most recently served with the Idaho Forest Group, where he dealt in land management and government affairs.

He’s filling some pretty big (and slightly worn-out) shoes. Randy Moore, the former chief who retired after 40 years on the job, didn’t exactly bow out on a high note. In his goodbye message, he warned that the Forest Service workers need to “prepare for unsettling times,” pointing to staffing and recent firings by Trump. That’s not quite the send-off speech that makes you feel warm and fuzzy about the future.

But here’s where Schultz’s Montana roots might benefit us. He gets how much the national forests matter. Not just to the environment but the people who rely on them for jobs, recreation, and wildfire defense. He is already speaking out on behalf of rural communities, for responsible forest management, and for ensuring that wildfire suppression remains a top priority.

Of course, we’ll see how Schultz responds to the pressure over time. But if there’s one thing Montanans understand, it’s that our people don’t shy away from a challenge. And right now, the Forest Service could use a little of that Montana grit.