Custer, SD – Dan Jirón, Regional Forester for the Rocky Mountain Region of the U.S. Forest Service announced the recipients of the 2014 Regional Forester Honor Awards. The Honor Awards recognize partner organizations and employees who significantly contribute to the U.S. Forest Service mission “to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.”
“I have tremendous gratitude for the work across the region of Forest Service employees and partners, and today has been a great showcase of some of the top achievements,” said Jirón.
The Honor Awards recognize seven categories: Regional Partner of the Year, Restoration and Resiliency, Public Service, Safety, Cultural Transformation and Inclusion, Special Recognition, and Ranger District of the Year.
Three leading partners in the Black Hills National Forest Preservation Project were recognized as the2014 Regional Partners of the Year for their efforts at five key locations in the Black Hills listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places: Mount Roosevelt, Gold Mountain Mine, Hardy Guard Station, Meeker Ranch, and the Harney Peak Lookout Tower. The Black Hills Preservation Trust, Region 1 Historic Preservation Team, and Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission share a commitment to the history of the area as well as the national history of the US Forest Service.
“The incredible work and level of experience and knowledge necessary to preserve these facilities could not have been achieved without the partners being honored today coming together for the Forest and the American people,” said Craig Bobzien, Black Hills National Forest Supervisor.
The Regional Forester’s 2014 Safety Award was presented to the Great Plains Interagency Medical Evacuation (Medevac) Training Group. Following the Dutch Creek Fatality in California in 2010, it became apparent that serious attention, planning and training for medical emergencies was needed in order to provide adequate care for agency employees and partners. The Great Plains Interagency Dispatch Center, along with other forest personnel and partners, developed the first Medevac training session in 2011, and annual participation has grown from 30 to over 200 participants in 2014. This tremendous work and program is the result of five organizations working together: The South Dakota National Guard, the Nebraska National Forest, South Dakota Wildland Fire, Black Hills Life Flight and the Black Hills National Forest.
Special Recognition from the Regional Forester also went to Brenda Anderson and Travis Lunders for their critical roles in helping the US Attorney’s office bring multiple Black Hills National Forest contractors to justice in a multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional fraud investigation.
As a member of the contracting staff, Anderson demonstrated outstanding support to all law enforcement agencies involved and continues to ensure that Forest Service contracts are administered appropriately and fairly on the Forest. Forest Service Special Agent Lunders was the lead investigator. The investigation was complex and took over four years to complete.
“SA Lunders and Ms. Anderson have consistently performed above and beyond the call of duty and provided outstanding support to the investigation, helping to bring justice to several contracted employees and the defrauded agencies,” said Acting Deputy Regional Forester Dan McCusker. “Their combined efforts are a prime example of commitment to duty and supreme public service.”