New Forest Supervisor announced for the Willamette National Forest
Contact Information: Kristin Carver SM.FS.R6PressDesk@usda.gov
PORTLAND, Ore., April 2, 2025 – The USDA Forest Service has appointed Robert Sanchez to serve as Forest Supervisor of the Willamette National Forest starting in late Spring.
Sanchez brings more than two decades of experience in natural resource management and leadership across multiple Forest Service regions. Most recently, he served as Deputy Regional Forester for the Pacific Northwest Region, where he helped lead operations and strategic initiatives across 17 national forests and a national grassland in Oregon and Washington.
Prior to his regional role, Sanchez served as Forest Supervisor of the Siuslaw National Forest and as Deputy Forest Supervisor on the Coconino National Forest. His experience also includes district leadership on the Colville and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forests, and technical roles as a hydrologist on forests across the West.
“Robert is a trusted and thoughtful leader with a deep understanding of our landscapes, operations, and partnerships,” said Buchanan. “He brings a field-informed perspective that will serve the Willamette well in this next chapter.”
This lateral move reflects the Forest Service’s continued focus on strengthening leadership capacity in the field to meet growing challenges and opportunities on the ground.
"It's an honor to be able to serve the Willamette National Forest in this role,” said Sanchez. “I'm looking forward to working alongside our communities, Tribes, partners, and talented employees to continue stewarding this incredible forest for current and future generations."
Originally from Texas, Sanchez holds a bachelor’s degree in forest resources and watershed management from the University of Idaho.
About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.