The U.S. Forest Service has selected Jerome “Jerry” Perez to be the new National Director of Fire and Aviation Management in Washington, D.C. He is currently the Forest Supervisor of the Angeles National Forest in Southern California.
The position has been vacant, occupied by acting personnel, since Shawna Legarza retired 18 months ago, June 30, 2020. Since then employees detailed temporarily to the job included Klamath Forest Supervisor Patty Grantham, Helena-Lewis and Clark Forest Supervisor Bill Avey, and Southwest Region Fire Director Jacob Nuttall.
“I welcome Jerry’s 32 years of experience and expertise as he leads our outstanding firefighters and guides the fire and aviation program to meet the challenge of preventing and managing wildfires,” said Forest Service Chief Randy Moore. “He steps into this position as the agency focuses on significantly increasing the pace and scale of hazardous fuels treatments focused in areas that have the highest risks of wildfires and threats to vital infrastructure.”
Prior to working on the Angeles NF Mr. Perez served as California State Director for the Bureau of Land Management and was the Oregon/Washington BLM State Director. Before his stint at the BLM he worked for the Forest Service in several positions, including Deputy Regional Forester for the Intermountain Region in Utah, Forest Supervisor on the Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky, Deputy Forest Supervisor for the Stanislaus National Forest in California, and was the National Litigation Coordinator in the Washington Office.
He has a Forestry degree from West Virginia University and a law degree from Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Mr. Perez also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ghana, Africa.
