The U.S. Forest Service has announced the appointment of a new forest supervisor for the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland.

Dawn Laybolt, a longtime federal employee who began her career as an archeological technician, will start as forest supervisor Aug. 10, according to a news release the Forest Service issued Wednesday.

Laybolt fills the role left open when the former forest supervisor, Russ Bacon, retired from the position earlier this year after a 30-year career in the federal government. Bacon’s retirement came amid a wave of federal layoffs and voluntary resignations at the Forest Service during the first weeks of the Trump Administration. He had worked as the forest supervisor since November 2017.

The Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland include nearly 2.9 million acres of National Forest System lands in Colorado and Wyoming and six ranger districts. Steamboat Ski Resort is among the recreational amenities located within the national forest.

Since beginning her federal career in 2009, Laybolt has worked in a variety of leadership roles on forests in Nebraska, Wyoming, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Missouri, the release states. In 2022, she served a temporary assignment as forest supervisor for the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland.

Most recently, Laybolt served as the acting director for the Forest Service’s Eastern Planning Service Group. She brings a strong commitment to working with state, federal, tribal and other public partners, according to the news release.

Chad Stewart and Ryan Nehl both served temporary assignments as supervisor of the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland this year. Stewart is the supervisor of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests. Nehl is the supervisor of the Pike-San Isabel National Forests and Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands.
In June, the White River National Forest in Colorado also got a new forest supervisor. Brian Glaspell assumed the top position at the nation’s most visited national forest after the forest’s longtime supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams retired through the Trump Administration’s deferred resignation program in March.