Special Agent Adam Michael Hill, 46, of Guyton, Georgia, who passed away Sept. 26, 2024, is remembered as an amazing husband, father, son, brother and friend. A dedicated employee since 2007, Adam quickly rose in the ranks within Law Enforcement and Investigations, including as the National Fitness and Wellbeing Coordinator supporting his colleagues across the country.

He joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service on Dec. 23, 2007. He served as a law enforcement officer, supervisor and patrol captain in the Pacific Southwest Region 5, including on the Lassen and Modoc national forests. In 2022, he moved to Georgia as the National Fitness and Wellbeing Coordinator at the agency’s National Academy, the training ground for law enforcement and investigation officers.

“I first met Adam at the Pacific Southwest Region Annual Law Enforcement Refresher Training session in 2011. I thought to myself, ‘This guy is going to go places,’” said Tracy Perry, director of the agency’s Law Enforcement and Investigations. “I was pleased that we were able to select him for the patrol captain position on the Lassen National Forest a few years later.  When he applied for the National Academy job, I had no doubt that he would be great. It didn’t take him long to exceed our expectations.”

As with any law enforcement organization, its members often have an unspoken language that binds them together through the inherit difficulties and danger of the profession.

At the academy, Adam helped to bring the We Got Your Six concept that someone always has your back to the Forest Service, expanding mental health awareness throughout the law enforcement community and providing direct help to individuals in crisis. He made it his mission to ensure no law enforcement officer ever felt alone.

Adam’s ultimate goal focused on eliminating the mental health stigma that exists within the law enforcement profession. When he introduced the program, Adam wrote, “We are all fighting demons from this job, whether it is violent conflicts, horrible memories or losing a brother and sister in the field. It's ok not to be ok. Let us pull together and be the agency that supports each other rather than tears itself apart. The decision starts with each of us.”

His work expanded across the agency and included non-sworn officers working in agency law enforcement. Adam’s work also influenced similar programs at other agencies.

When not on the job, Adam relished the outdoors with fishing, biking and exercising. He also loved reading and music. Since moving to Georgia, he went on long bike rides with his family around Jekyll and St. Simons islands. With a lifetime affinity for alligators, when outdoors he always tried to spot them in the wild.

Above everything, Adam’s greatest source of pride were his children. His laugh and his big heart are forever imprinted on his family, those he loved and helped and to his colleagues around the agency.

Adam is survived by his wife of 26 years, Melissa Hill, three children, Adrienne (Deven Hutt), Ian and Amira, his parents, John and Sherry Hill of Utah; five siblings and a large extended family.