To:         All Employees

Subject:    My Take on 41 Years with the Forest Service

I have used this forum to give you “my take” on a variety of issues over
the past several years.  Today, I announced my intention to retire on
February 2 after 41 years of service, having been Chief for almost six of
those years.  So here’s “my take” on leaving the agency that has been such
a big part of my life.

In a letter to all employees when I first became Chief, I talked about our
history and rich traditions but emphasized the need to look to the future.
I shared my view about what the important work of “caring for the land and
serving people” meant to me…that our care for the land should continue to
be multiple-use, with a focus on stewardship and sustainability of the
land, the water and the communities we serve.  I said that I felt that the
best approach to meeting that stewardship objective would be to focus on
what we leave on the land rather than what we take from it.  I also
speculated that through the use of stewardship contracts and other
innovative management tools, we could have healthy ecosystems and continue
to produce goods and services.

I have traveled all over the country doing this job, and I am in awe of the
beauty of the land we manage.  You have embraced the idea of the “Four
Threats” and I have been gratified by your hard work in response to those
threats.  You truly are the protectors of our nation’s forests.

We have lived through traumatic events such as September 11 and Hurricane
Katrina, and we responded to those events and many others as only the
Forest Service can.  We have grieved too often for those who lost their
lives in support of our mission.  I continue to be startled and pleased at
the skill, talent and enthusiasm of our people.  Your dedication to our
mission, to the land, and to the American people amazes me.

The hardest moments for a Chief are when we lose people.  I have tried hard
to make safety a big part of my work.  My deepest hope is that the Forest
Service truly develops a culture around safety.  At the end of the day, I
want everyone to go home.

This has been a time of great change for the Forest Service.  You have
struggled with me through the changes, and I can’t begin to tell you how
much that has meant to me.  I have felt tremendous support from Forest
Service people, during both the good times and the bad times.  I know that
you will give the next Chief that same support.  Like me, your new Chief
will be awestruck and grateful for it.

Words can’t begin to describe how I feel today.  Thank you for everything
that you do.  As I said in April 2001, it is important work.  I am proud to
have served with you.

That’s my take.

Dale