Local News

New Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Supervisor Selected


Aug 16, 2013

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Pacific Northwest Regional Forest Kent Connaughton has announcedthe appointment of Michael Balboni as the new forest supervisor of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

            Balboni will become the national forest’s senior agency official, overseeing management of four million acres of federal land in Washington and more than 450 employees. He is currently forest supervisor on the Kisatchie National Forest in Pineville, La., and will report for duty on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest during the first week in October.

            Balboni replaces Becki L. Heath, who was has been the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest supervisor since June 2007. In May, Connaughton announced Heath had been selected as one of two deputy regional foresters to assist him in the region’s Portland headquarters. He requested Heath delay her report date to ensure continuity of leadership on the national forest, particularly through the fire season.

            “Mike is a great fit for the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest,” said Connaughton. “He has solid fire suppression management and forest supervisor experience. He’s been with the Forest Service for more than 30 years and has gained a wealth of knowledge in four different regions.”

            Balboni has worked on 11 national forests and began his career in Florida as a biological aid working in wildlife, timber management and prescribed burning. He has also worked as a wildlife biologist, resource assistant and national forest planner.

            Balboni was a district ranger for more than 12 years in Troy, Mont., on the Kootenai National Forest, prior to becoming deputy forest supervisor for the Bridger-Teton N.F., in Jackson, Wyo.

            He spent two and a half years on the Bridger-Teton National Forest and more than 20 years in the west, before moving to Pineville, La., to become forest supervisor on the Kisatchie National Forest in 2009. He has also served as the acting deputy regional forester for natural resources for the agency’s southern region.

            In 2013, the Louisiana Wildlife Federation selected Balboni as the Louisiana Professional Conservationist of Year. In addition, he served for more than seven years as chair of the Selkirk/Cabinet-Yaak Interagency Grizzly Bear Subcommittee.

            Balboni’s fire suppression background includes working as an agency administrator for large fires managed by interagency incident management teams. His fire operational experience includes serving on fire lines as a division group supervisor and safety officer.

            He is known for working in a collaborative fashion with interest groups, and has considerable experience supervising revisions of national forest plans, and administering stewardship contracts and agreements.

            His community leadership experience includes service as a park district chair, president of the Troy Business Club and more than 12 years as a high school football official.

            Balboni has a bachelor’s degree in forest resources and conservation from the University of Florida. He and his wife Sylvia have been married for more than 30 years, and have two sons who are graduates of Montana State University. He enjoys golfing, hunting, fishing, camping, mountain biking and road cycling.


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