Having grown up enjoying the forests of New England and spending much time in the mountains of California, Rick was excited to discover the beauty of grassland ecosystems after moving to Colorado. Now, as Regional Wildlife Program Leader for the Rocky Mountain Region of the U.S. Forest Service, he sees national grasslands as hidden treasures among our public lands.

The Forest Service manages several national grasslands and national forests in the high plains. Serving on the PLJV Management Board provides opportunities to collaborate with partners across this vast working landscape and contribute to broader conservation efforts. For Rick, seeing the conservation work of the PLJV partnership, in collaboration with private landowners, is always inspiring.

Rick has worked as a wildlife biologist with the Forest Service for more than 25 years and has been passionate about managing for wildlife habitat in multiple-use landscapes, fostering partnerships, and helping advance monitoring programs in support of land management and conservation. Rick began his career with the Forest Service working with the agency’s research branch in California while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in wildlife from Humboldt State University. He attended graduate school at the University of California, Berkeley and spent much of his early career working on forest carnivore conservation, management, and monitoring in the Sierra Nevada.

Rick’s hobbies include photography, hiking, biking, tending to a small suburban vegetable garden, and enjoying whatever the garden produces.