Peggy Fisher is the Engineering, Minerals, and Fleet Staff Officer on the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and the Crooked River National Grassland in Central Oregon. She oversees a number of programs including transportation planning and implementation, facilities management, timber program support, forest restoration and aquatic passage support, geology and minerals, fleet management, and supervises about 35 employees.

Peggy understands the importance of collaboration and partnerships, something clearly seen in the accountability she holds for herself and her staff to be active employees, internally and externally. She has led multiple committees/teams from the Travel Management Rule Subpart A and B Travel Analysis Projects for both Forests to the recent completion of an Alternate Transportation Feasibility study that explored alternative modes of transportation beyond personal motor vehicles in getting visitors into the forest. Peggy has helped build strong relationships between the Central Oregon Forests and the City of Redmond, The Redmond Municipal Airport, the Prineville Airport, and the FAA to ensure smooth and safe operations in support of our USFS wildland fire fighting mission. In understanding the necessity for innovative solutions, Peggy has led the way in exploring options such as the Reciprocal Fire Act to ensure critical maintenance needs are accomplished.

Peggy has also been active at the regional level participating in various BAER teams, the Region 6/10 cadre for Public Works Contract Administration Class, Region 6 recruitment and retention team, and the ongoing communication study to improve dialog across the region between engineering and line officers. Her latest endeavor is to become a certified instructor for Crucial Conversations to refine her personal communication skills and to teach others.

She is constantly striving to improve herself as an engineer and as a leader and has taken multiple line officer details to “step out of her comfort zone” and learn how to make engineering more relevant at the forest and regional level. She is incredibly supportive of her engineers and works to motivate her employees to branch out as well. Peggy is very personable and genuinely cares for her employees and co-workers. She remembers the little details about people and asks often about how people are doing professionally and personally.

Peggy received a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Oregon State University (OS) in 1987 and a Master’s of Science (Geotechnical Engineering) from OS in 1988. She is a licensed professional engineer in the State of Oregon. Peggy started her career in 1988 on the Willamette National Forest, moving to the Ochoco National Forest in 1992 and then to the Deschutes National Forest in 2000. In 2001, she became the Transportation Program Manager for both forests, combining the two engineering departments across forest boundaries.