Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) has
selected Mike Shaw as the new District Forester for the Central Oregon District
(COD). Shaw replaces George Ponte who
recently retired after more than seven years as District Forester and 26 years
with the Department. COD provides
wildfire protection and administers the Forest Practices Act on approximately
2.2 million acres of private and non-federal public land throughout eleven
counties in Oregon. As District
Forester, Shaw will manage 35 permanent employees and 90 seasonal firefighters
in offices in Prineville, Sisters, The Dalles, John Day, and Fossil.
Shaw has been with ODF for sixteen years,
starting as a Forest Practices Forester in the Toledo Unit of the West Oregon
District. He served in a similar
position in Wallowa, prior to promoting to Unit Forester for the Wallowa
Unit. In December of 2014 Shaw left
northeast Oregon to work as ODF’s Eastern Oregon Assistant Area Director. Shaw’s prior experience in both Protection
and Private Forests Divisions and in various locations within the agency will
provide a good foundation as he assumes his leadership role in the Central
Oregon District. In addition to his
experience in these positions Shaw has served on ODF’s Incident Management Team
1 as Situation Unit Leader and as Planning Section Chief. Shaw is a graduate of Oregon State
University, holding a bachelor’s degree in Forest Management.
The interview committee chose Mike Shaw
from a pool of qualified candidates based on experience and answers to
interview questions. Candidates were
interviewed by a panel of Central Oregon District employees and a diverse panel
comprised of local stakeholders, agency cooperators, ODF administrators and
Travis Medema, ODF’s Eastern Oregon Area Director. “I am really looking forward to working with
a great group of employees and furthering the mission of ODF in Central Oregon”,
states Shaw. “The past three fire seasons
have been particularly challenging and I am excited for the opportunities these
challenges may afford as we move into the future.” Mike has made his home in central Oregon with
his wife and children, where they are integrating into the community and
exploring the area. Shaw is an avid
outdoorsman and enjoys skiing with his family during the winter.
George Ponte worked in various positions around
the state prior to becoming the COD District Forester, he started his career in
the Western Lane District. Before
working for ODF Ponte spent a couple fire seasons working for the Douglas
Forest Protective Association (partner agency to ODF) and some time with the US
Forest Service. George held positions as
Stewardship Forester, Unit Forester, and Assistant Area Director and in
positions on ODF’s Incident Management Teams.
Since 1996 George and his wife Michelle, whom he met while working at
Western Lane, have called central Oregon home.
Significant fire activity in central Oregon has kept Ponte busy for the
last several years, this upcoming summer he is looking forward to watching
thunderstorms from his deck with his wife without the worries of how many fires
are starting. However, he has assured
COD employees that we will see him from time to time.