Josh Latham—2015 Engineering Technician of the Year

Josh has been a Project Engineer on the Siuslaw National Forest, part of the R6 Sub Regional Engineering Organization in Western Oregon for the past seven years. In that time he has designed and administrated contracts for subgrade repairs, culvert improvements, aggregate surface placement, asphalt repairs, waste water system construction, and recreation enhancement projects as both a Public Works Contracting Officer’s Representative and Timber Sale Engineering Representative. He has a particular passion for engineering large scale Aquatic Organism Passage (AOP) structures in prime salmon and steelhead systems along the Oregon coast.

Josh was raised in Southwest Wyoming in the small town of Reliance, just outside of Rock Springs. He spent many days of his youth in the Wind River Range while staying at his Grandparent’s cabin in Atlantic City, this is where his love for the outdoors began. During these trips and as a young adult he frequented the Shoshone and Bridger-Teton National Forests hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping.

His career with the Forest Service began in the summer of 2000 with the Tongass National Forest on Prince of Wales Island. From there he moved to the Willamette National Forest in early 2007 before making it to the Siuslaw National Forest in 2009.

In his free time Josh enjoys spending time with his Partner, Lisa, her son Bennett, and his children, Justin, ReAnna, and Tiffany. He also enjoys spending time in the outdoors, riding ATVs on the Oregon Dunes, photography, hiking, exploring, and strolling the beach around sunset.