James Hubbard, who retired as deputy chief of the Forest Service in 2017, is President Trump’s choice to become agriculture undersecretary for natural resources, announced the White House. His primary job will be oversight of the Forest Service, with its 154 national forests and 20 grasslands on 193 million acres in 43 states and Puerto Rico.
Hubbard worked for the Colorado Forest Service for 35 years and was the state forester, the top post, from 1984-2004. After that, he joined the U.S. Forest Service as its wildland fire coordinator. In January 2006, he was appointed deputy chief for state and private forestry. “During his time with the agency, Hubbard guided the agency through years of catastrophic wildfire incidents and worked closely with State Foresters to promote a comprehensive, landscape-scale approach to forest management,” said the National Association of State Foresters in 2016, when it named its premiere internship in honor of Hubbard.
A forestry graduate of Colorado State University, Hubbard said in 2016 that he had been a forester for 48 years. Asked about his favorite outdoor activity, he replied, “I enjoy exploring high countgry beaver ponds and fishing for brookies.”
The White House has been slow to fill USDA’s senior ranks. Of 13 posts, such as undersecretary, that require Senate confirmation, eight are vacant, according to Partnership for Public Service, which tracks political appointments.