SE Wyoming News

Senate Western Caucus Chair Cynthia Lummis, along with Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, have issued statements regarding the appointment of Tom Schultz as the 21st chief of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.

"President Trump and Secretary Rollins have made a great choice in naming Tom Schultz to lead the U.S. Forest Service," said Lummis. "Tom is a University of Wyoming graduate and I’m confident that he is the leader who will bring balance back to the Forest Service and return the agency to responsible logging and management. I look forward to working with Tom to restore and protect our country’s great national forests."

Risch added his congratulations: "Congratulations to Idaho’s own Tom Schultz for being named the 21st Chief of the U.S. Forest Service. Tom is a forester’s forester. With over 27 years of natural resource management experience, he is the no-nonsense leader our Western states urgently need to rein in the wildfire crisis and reinforce forest health. Tom’s selection to lead the U.S. Forest Service underscores President Trump and Secretary Rollins’ recognition of the immense value that Idahoans bring to restoring American greatness. I look forward to the good work Tom will accomplish for our nation and the West."

Crapo also expressed his support: "Tom Schultz’s deep on-the-ground experience and skills, including his long-time service in Idaho, will be critically useful as he manages our federal forests," said Crapo. "He intimately understands how federal decision-making impacts our great state, and I look forward to working with him in this capacity."

Schultz's background includes serving as vice president of resources and government affairs at Idaho Forest Group, where he led timber procurement operations and managed relationships with government officials at all levels. A former U.S. Air Force officer, Schultz also served as director of the Idaho Department of Lands, overseeing several million surface acres of endowment lands and minerals management. He held leadership roles in Montana’s Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.

Schultz holds a bachelor’s degree in government from the University of Virginia, a master’s degree in political science from the University of Wyoming, and a master’s degree in forestry from the University of Montana.