This page provides historical and current information about the division.

Division of Forestry Mission

Our mission is to protect and enhance the forest resources of the commonwealth through a public informed of the environmental and economic importance of these resources.

History

The Kentucky Division of Forestry will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2012. The Board of Forestry was established in 1912 by the Kentucky General Assembly. Following the Reorganization Act of 1936, the Board of Forestry became the current Kentucky Division of Forestry.

Today

Today, the division employees 213 full-time employees. The majority of staff work out of one of nine district offices across the state.

Leah MacSwords is the director of the division and serves as the state forester for Kentucky.

Steve Kull is the assistant director and serves as the deputy state forester for Kentucky.

Forest Stewardship and Education Branch Manager - Diana Olszowy

Forest Stewardship Section Supervisor - Stewart West

     Forest Stewardship - Pamela Snyder

     Urban and Community Forestry - Sarah Gracey and Peter Barber

Forestry Education Section Supervisor - currently vacant

     Kentucky Firewise - Jennifer L. Turner (Firewise Grants) Cindy Bennett - Firewise Technical Specialist

     Forestry Education - Jennifer L. Turner

     Kentucky Master Logger - Mark Schuster

     Forest Landowner Education/Assistance - Tad Norris

Forest Inventory and Analysis Program Section Supervisor - Ray Campbell

Forest Resources Branch Manager - Tim Sheehan

     Wildland Fire - Bernie Andersen 

     State Forests - Eric Gracey

     Nurseries - Tim Sheehan

     Forest Utilization and Industry - Larry Lowe