Following a nationwide search, U.S. Forest Service officials selected Don Carroll of Montana to be the deputy White River National Forest supervisor. Carroll replaces Steve Sherwood, who left last fall.

A veteran Forest Service employee, Carroll started his career in 1980 as a forester on the Wayne-Hoosier National Forest, which straddles Ohio and Indiana. Earlier, Carroll worked as a forester for the Missouri Department of Conservation, followed by a stint with the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Washington.

“I was always interested in the mission of the Forest Service,” said Carroll. When an opportunity to get a job with the Forest Service presented itself, he applied. He has no regrets.

With a degree in forestry from Southern Illinois University, Carroll has served in numerous capacities with the Forest Service.

Following his initial assignment, he worked on the Routt National Forest in Craig from 1983-85, where he served as a timber management assistant working on timber sells. He took a similar position in 1985 on the Yampah ranger district.

In 1988, he moved to the Medicine Bow National Forest as a district ranger. Following a consolidation of districts, he served as the district ranger on the Brush Creek-Hayden ranger district until 2000, when he moved on to the Lolo National Forest in Montana as a district ranger.

During his tenure on the Medicine Bow, he spent six months in 1999 on the White River as the acting Dillon district ranger, and knew he would like to return.

“I enjoy all the recreation opportunities Colorado has to offer,” he said. An avid angler, Carroll plans on exploring early season hatches on the Fryingpan and Roaring Fork rivers. He also enjoys hiking, biking and skiing.

With four children out of high school, Carroll and his wife plan to move to Glenwood Springs, where he will start work Thursday.