New District Ranger appointed for Entiat and Chelan Ranger Districts

WENATCHEE — Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Supervisor Kristin Bail announced the appointment of Paul Willard as the new District Ranger for the Chelan and Entiat Ranger Districts.

Willard will oversee the management of over 100 personnel on the two units and the work they do to maintain, restore, and protect nearly 700,000 acres of federal land that also encompasses portions of the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth and Glacier Peak Wildernesses, including Lake Chelan recreation areas.

“Paul Willard is highly respected for his leadership and skill working with volunteer groups and agency partners on trail and recreation improvement projects,” Bail said. “He recently coordinated the replacement of several aging boat docks along Lake Chelan that provide critical infrastructure to commercial and recreation transportation services to up-lake destinations of Holden and Stehekin. Paul also has experience as an agency administrator, representing the forest on numerous small and large wildfires over the past decade.”

Willard grew up in East Tennessee, camping and hiking in the nearby Smokey Mountains. He noted that his interest in outdoor recreation and likely time spent as a river guide in college were pivotal in leading to his career in outdoor recreation management.

In 1991, Willard began his Forest Service career in the Eldorado National Forest as an archaeologist after graduating from the University of Tennessee with a BA degree in Anthropology. He’s worked on seven National Forests in five Regions in recreation-focused positions, including River Ranger, Lead Wilderness Ranger, Trail Crew Leader, and Assistant District Recreation Staff. He has been the Recreation Staff Officer for the Chelan Ranger District since 2010. In August 2022, he served as the acting District Ranger for the two units and recently transitioned into the permanent district ranger position this past May.

“I’m really looking forward to putting the new tools and authorities provided by the Central Washington Initiative to work as we focus on improving wildfire resiliency within the wildland-urban interface areas of our districts and increasing the restoration footprint with the help of our state and local partners,” said Willard.

Willard and his family spend much of their downtime exploring backcountry areas, skiing, mountain biking, fishing, and hunting. “And now that my boys are teenagers, we’ve also explored the Mad River and Sawtooth trail systems on motorbikes. My wife also has one, so we’re all looking forward to exploring more trails together on these districts,” Willard said.

For more information, contact Deborah Kelly at 509-670-0354 or deborah.kelly@usda.gov