Chris Savage has been named the new Forest Supervisor on the Kootenai National Forest, the U.S. Forest Service announced Friday. Savage is currently the assistant director overseeing the watershed, fish and aquatic ecology programs at Forest Service headquarters in Washington D.C.
Savage will replace Paul Bradford, the Kootenai supervisor since 2006, on June 2. Bradford announced his retirement in February and since then Pam Gardner, the deputy supervisor on the Custer and Gallatin National Forests, has served as acting supervisor.
“I think Chris is an incredible fit for the forest supervisor position in Libby,” said regional forester Faye Krueger. “One of the things that stood out to me was his collaborative work with the community on the forest and salmon habitat restoration projects during his time in Alaska.”
Savage said he is excited to return west, having spent five years as a hydrologist on the nearby Idaho Panhandle National Forest. Savage has spent time in Alaska and Idaho and graduated from Utah State University with a bachelor’s degree in watershed science.