According to a press release issued January 4 by the US Forest Service, Paul Ries was named Associate Deputy Chief in State and Private Forestry (effective December 30, 2012) and Nora Rasure will be the new Regional Forester in the Intermountain Region, effective January 13.

Paul has served as the Director for Cooperative Forestry with responsibility for the Forest Service Landowner Assistance Programs (Forest Stewardship, Forest Legacy, and Community Forest Open Space), the Urban & Community Forestry Program, as well as a staff group working with Ecosystem Services and Markets. Prior to his current position, Paul has been an Assistant Ranger and Spearfish District Ranger on the Black Hills National Forest and Manager of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. After that time, Paul joined the State & Private Forestry (S&PF) Staff in the Northern and Intermountain Regions where he served as a Regional Program Manager. He spent two years focused on the National Fire Plan, then returned to S&PF as Deputy Director and eventually became S&PF Director for the Northern and Intermountain Regions where he was responsible for leading the full spectrum of Cooperative Forestry, Forest Health, Tribal Relations and National Fire Plan Programs. He is a graduate of Colorado State University, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Forest Biology (Ecology).

Nora is currently the Acting Regional Forester for the Eastern Region. Nora has completed several Regional Office assignments including Deputy Regional Forester for the Pacific Northwest Region in Portland, Oregon, and Acting Deputy Regional Forester in the Rocky Mountain Region. She served in the National Headquarters for two years as the Deputy Director for Recreation, Heritage and Volunteer Resources, and the Acting Director of Forest Management. She also has been Forest Supervisor on the Coconino and Colville National Forests, Deputy Forest Supervisor on the Coronado National Forest and District Ranger on the West Fork Ranger District, Bitterroot National Forest. Nora began her career as a Youth Conservation Corps crew leader on the Toiyabe National Forest and subsequently worked in several positions in fire, lands and recreation on the Toiyabe National Forest in Carson City and Las Vegas, Nevada. Nora received her Bachelor of Science in Forest Management from the University of Illinois.

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