July 31, 2019 was my last day working for the Forest Service after 33 years. I began my career with the Forest Service as an Ecologist on the Six
Rivers National Forest on June 1986 right after graduating from Humboldt State University with a Master of Science degree in Natural Resources.
My dream job was to work as a field Ecologist,
riding horses in pristine wilderness areas, gathering data and, of course, saving the planet. As a Forest Service Ecologist, I was occasionally able to ride horses in pristine wilderness areas but in reality, my job primarily required
a more conventional method of getting around in the field, i.e. hiking. After working as an Ecologist for about six years, I discovered there was a real need for people to develop databases that could be
used to compile and analyze the data that was being collected. At that time, the Forest Service was just getting started with computers and needed people with database skills. So, seeing an opportunity, I switched gears and became an Information Technology Specialist. My job
as an IT Specialist included developing Forest and Region wide databases that were used to better manage Forest Service resources. In some ways, this time was probably the most satisfying period of my Forest Service career. Eventually, after 13 years on the Six Rivers National Forest I changed positions and moved to Vancouver, Washington where I worked as a System
Administrator and provided user computer support on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. After about three years on the Gifford Pinchot NF, I moved to the Portland Forestry Sciences Lab in Portland, Oregon where I worked as a the System Administrator and provided user computer support. After three years at the Portland Forestry Science Lab, I moved to the Region 6 Regional Office in Portland, Oregon where I again worked as the System Administrator and provided user computer support until I retired on July 31, 2019.
Retirement is still a little surreal and hasn’t quite set in. The left side of my brain enjoyed the challenge of working as a computer System Administrator but I am now looking forward to challenging my
right-brain. I’m also looking forward to lots of
travel adventures, rediscovering old hobbies, bicycling and spending more time with family and friends (including the furry four legged kind).
travel adventures, rediscovering old hobbies, bicycling and spending more time with family and friends (including the furry four legged kind). 
