For Immediate Release: Thursday, April 10, 2003
Contact:  Ann Bond       970.385.1219
                Terri Gates     303.275.1219
                 Barb Perkins 303.239.3668

Mark Stiles named new San Juan Forest Supervisor/Public Lands Manager

The United States Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced today the selection of Mark Stiles to the position of San Juan Forest Supervisor/Public Lands Manager, headquartered in the San Juan Public Lands Center in Durango.

This Service First position manages USFS as well as BLM Public Lands in southwestern Colorado. Stiles recently served a four-month detail as the Acting Forest Supervisor/Public Lands Manager in Durango from May through September 2002, serving as the federal agency administrator during the Missionary Ridge Fire.

"Mark’s background and experience are well matched to the diversity of issues facing southwestern Colorado, said Rocky Mountain Regional Forester Rick Cables.  "He will be a great addition to our team and a tremendous leader in this premier Service First position."

"The number and caliber of qualified candidates added to the competition for this position and made the selection process challenging," said BLM Colorado State Director Ron Wenker.  "However, Mark has the right mix of knowledge, skills and experience that are critical as the new leader of this joint Forest Service/BLM shared Service First office."

Stiles is currently the BLM Western Slope Center Manager overseeing administrative support functions, information technology, shared scarce skills and fire management for 7 million acres of public land in western Colorado. Prior to this position, he was the BLM Montrose District Manager, overseeing 2.2 million acres of public lands and 800,000 acres of mineral estate. From 1992-1995, Stiles served in the Washington, D.C. office as the Congressional Liaison Specialist for the Office of the Secretary of the Interior. Other positions in the BLM have included BLM South Dakota Area Manager, Land Use Specialist in North Dakota and Southeastern Utah Regional Economist.

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