My name is Cindy McArthur. I am the new Forest Service Liaison to the Society for Range Management. My family and I just moved to Washington, D.C. from John Day, Oregon. I am excited and honored to be working in this new position. I share the same feelings expressed by former Chief of the Forest Service, Lyle F. Watts, almost sixty years ago when he stated: "The Forest Service stands to gain considerably from the successful establishment of a national society. It will provide an opportunity for gaining a joint understanding of range matters by range administrators, educators and users. It will provide an opportunity for dissemination of our information and should result in gaining interest and support for our work" (Watts 1947).

Major duties I will pursue during my tenure as SRM Liaison include: helping the Forest Service understand the challenges and opportunities of rangeland management and building partnerships with natural resource agencies and other organizations to strengthen efforts to maintain healthy rangelands and the communities they support. In addition, I look forward to working closely with colleges and universities to train, recruit, and retain dynamic new employees who are prepared to make positive contributions to the field of rangeland management.

I have a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Studies, with an emphasis on Sustainable Communities and Agriculture, from Utah State University and a Master of Science Degree in Range Ecology and Management from Oregon State University.

My career with the Forest Service started with an eventful few years as a Range Management Specialist on the Gila National Forest in Catron County, New Mexico. Prior to moving to the Washington Office, I worked as the Range, Invasive Species, and Wild Horse Program Manager for the Blue Mountain Ranger District on the Malheur National Forest. While there, I gained a great appreciation for dedicated permittees who balance livestock production goals with ever increasing requirements for threatened and endangered salmon, Wild and Scenic Rivers, and expanding wild horse populations.

I credit my early involvement in the Society for Range Management to an excellent college mentor, Dr. Mark Brunson and my first supervisor, Dr. Thomas Bedell, Chairman of the Benton Soil and Water Conservation District. I hope to pass on their support and encouragement to other students and young professionals.

This is the first time the Forest Service has had a liaison to the Society for Range Management. I welcome any ideas or suggestions you may have. I can be reached at:

USDA Forest Service
Rangelands Management Staff
201 14th & Independence Ave. SW
Washington, DC 20250
Desk (202) 205-2733
Fax (202) 205-1096
E-mail - cmcarthur@fs.fed.us