NOMINEE REQUIRING SENATE CONFIRMATION

EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENT BACKGROUND SUMMARY

 

 

NOMINEE:   Victoria C. Christiansen         

 

POSITION:   State Forester             

 

REPLACING:  Kirk Rowdabaugh              

 

APPOINTING GOVERNOR: Janice K. Brewer   

 

DATE OF APPOINTMENT: March 2, 2009

 

TERM ENDS: At the pleasure of the Governor

 

POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE STATE FORESTER:

According to A.R.S. § 37-622, the Arizona State Forester is required to perform all management and administrative functions assigned to the state by the federal government relating to forestry and financial assistance. Additional duties include identifying sources of information to forest management, including wildfire suppression and recovery, and developing procedures for compiling and transferring such information.   

 

The State Forester is required to take necessary action to maximize state fire assistance grants, including establishing timelines for using grant monies and reallocating lapsed grant monies to other projects. The State Forester also must conduct education and outreach programs in forest communities; monitor forestry projects and wildfire activities; and intervene on behalf of the state in judicial appeals and litigation if intervention is deemed to be in the best interests of the state. The State Forester is also required to present information to legislative committees with jurisdiction over forestry issues.

 

Prior to 2004, the Arizona State Land Commissioner was statutorily required to serve as the State Forester.  Laws 2004, Chapter 326 required the Governor to appoint a State Forester, and prescribed the duties of the office.  The State Forester serves at the pleasure of the Governor.

 

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE OR OTHER STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS:

Pursuant to A.R.S. § 37-621, the State Forester must either 1) be a graduate from a four year college or university with a bachelor’s degree in forestry including five years of technical experience in the forestry-land management field, or 2) have 10 years of successful and progressive technical experience in forestry and land management sufficient to perform the duties at a professional level.

 

SALARY OR OTHER COMPENSATION:

 

The State Forester receives a total annual salary of $97,099, which includes 2.75 percent performance pay.

 

 

 

 

AGENCY BUDGET AND FTEs:

 

The Arizona Division of Forestry (Division) was appropriated an operating budget of $6,921,000 in FY 2008-2009 through special line items in the Arizona State Land Department’s budget.  The Division has 60 FTEs.

 

NOMINEE’S QUALIFICATIONS:

 

Education:    

University of Washington, BS in Forest Management

 

Employment:

State Forester, Arizona Division of Forestry: March 2009-Present

State Forester/Executive Director of Regulatory Programs, Washington State Department of Natural Resources (WSDNR): 2006 – 2009

Region Operations Manager, WSDNR: 2005 – 2006

Pacific Cascade/Central Region Manager, WSDNR: 2000 – 2005

Assistant Division Manager for Operations (Forest Practices Division), WSDNR: 2000

Hood Canal District Manager (South Puget Sound Region), WSDNR: 1992-2000

Agricultural Resources Division Manager, WDSNR: 1995-1996

Forest Fire Protection Specialist (Central Region), WDSNR: 1990-1992

Various Land Management, Forest and Fire Protection Positions, WSDNR: 1983 - 2000

 

Other Qualifications:

Society of American Foresters (SAF) National Convention Arrangements Co-Chair

Co-Founder, Thurston and Lewis County Fire Prevention Cooperative

Co-Founder, Students in the Watershed Environmental Education Partnership

Member, National Association of State Foresters

Member, Washington State Conservation Commission

Chair Designee, Washington Forest Practices Board

Project Leader, National Framework for Wildland Fire Policy Working Group

Graduate and Board of Trustees, Washington Agricultural and Forestry Leadership Program

Graduate, Portland State University Executive Seminar Program

Distinguished Alumni Speaker, University of Washington College of Forest Resources

 

Awards

SAF Forester of the Year, South West Washington Chapter

Western Forestry and Conservation Association, Distinguished Current Achievement Award

Peninsula School District Alumni of Distinction Award

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural Resources, Infrastructure and Public Debt Committee

April 13, 2009