WASHINGTON, Apr. 5, 2002 -- U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth today appointed Jack Troyer as regional forester for the intermountain region. The intermountain region with forests and grasslands in Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming is the largest region in the Forest Service with 32 million acres.

"As deputy regional forester in the Intermountain Region since 1997 and acting regional forester since November Jack has demonstrated the necessary leadership skills and is intimately familiar with natural resource issues in the region," said Bosworth. Troyer replaces Jack Blackwell who moved to the Pacific Southwest regional forester position in California.

Troyer grew up in Western Colorado in the rural environment of a peach farm near the small town of Palisade. He attended Colorado State University and studied watershed management. He began his Forest Service career as a hydrologist and planner in California in 1969 and then moved to Colorado where he served as District Ranger for nine years on the San Juan and White River National Forests. He was also a Forest Supervisor on the Chequamegon and Nicolet National Forests in Wisconsin before coming to the Intermountain Region. Troyer also worked as the Forest Service member of an interagency coordination team for the Greater Yellowstone Area with the National Park Service.

"It is a thrill and honor to be selected as regional forester for the Intermountain Region. The region has great employees, fantastic natural resources and scenery. I look forward to the challenges," said Troyer.

Troyer's appointment as regional forester is effective immediately.