Thursday, June 11, 2015

Jeffrey Vail Named New Forest Supervisor for Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument

Jeffrey Vail has been selected as the new Forest Supervisor for the Angeles Natio nal Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. He took the helm on Friday, June 5.

“I look forward to the challenges and opportunities the Angeles and the new Monument bring,” said Vail, “I’m excited and humbled to have the opportunity to oversee one of the most complex urban places in the nation. I look forward to working closely with communities, partners and stakeholders to cooperatively manage our majestic mountains.”

Vail has extensive experience having worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 24 years. Since 2012, he served as Director of Lands, Minerals, & Uses (Rec and Lands) for the Southern Region of the Forest Service. In that role, he provided program and policy oversight for land adjustment, boundary and title management, recreation and lands special uses, valuation services, and all minerals and geology management activities in the Region.

He also served as Assistant Director of Lands and Realty Management in the Washington Office overseeing the agency’s real property program, including land acquisitions, exchanges, sales, donations, right-of-way, and access issues, as well as realty-related legislation and litigation.

In addition, Vail was designated Forest Service liaison to U.S. Customs and Border Protection on border security issues in national forests along the U.S. international borders. Vail previously served as an attorney with USDA’s Office of the General Counsel, practicing in the areas of real property, Indian law, protected area management (wilderness, trails, wild and scenic rivers, national monuments), hydropower licensing, state and private forestry, hazardous substances, and land management planning.

Vail has served in various acting assignments including: Bureau Environmental Officer, Latin America and Caribbean Bureau, U.S. Agency for International Development; Director, Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers; Deputy Regional Forester, Southern Region; and Forest Supervisor for three National Forests.

A native of Maine, Vail holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree from the School of International Service at American University (1985) and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School (1991).