By Scott Owen
This week, the San Juan National Forest welcomed our new Forest Supervisor, David Neely.
Dave comes to the San Juan from Washington, DC, where he was Deputy Director for the Ecosystem Management Coordination staff in support of national policy around land management planning, environmental analysis, monitoring, and adaptive management. He was also the Acting Forest Supervisor on the San Juan National Forest from June to September 2022.
Dave has served in the Forest Service since 1996. He worked as a seasonal and permanent employee in various roles on four Ranger Districts and in the agency’s National Headquarters. He was the District Ranger in Vail, Colorado for six years before joining the Legislative Affairs staff in the Forest Service headquarters in Washington DC.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to re-join this team of dedicated public servants and resource stewards here in Southwest Colorado,” said Neely. “This is a spectacular working landscape with resources that are foundational to the quality of life we enjoy in the region, and the spirit of collaboration and partnership is outstanding. I’m looking forward to building relationships with our communities, state, county, local and tribal governments, and our many stakeholders to support and advance the great work already underway here.”
Dave is from Gainesville, Florida and grew up hunting, fishing, and surfing. He attended Tulane University in New Orleans and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts before moving to the White Mountains of New Hampshire where he skied and rock climbed as much as possible. He worked as a ski patroller and as a seasonal wilderness ranger with the Forest Service before joining the agency permanently in 2000. Dave and his wife Dana enjoy a wide range of outdoor recreation and are excited to make Durango their home.
For more information about the San Juan National Forest, call (970) 247-4874. For information on current fire restrictions, conditions, and recreation opportunities on the San Juan National Forest, call (970) 247-4874, or visit the forest website.