Elaine is currently serving as the Acting Regional Forester for the Southwestern Region (Arizona and New Mexico). She has been in a permanent position as Deputy Regional Forester for the Southwestern Region since May 2018. She held a previous position as Forest Supervisor of the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands from 2013 to 2018. She started as a wilderness ranger in 1986 and has held numerous positions over 33 years at the district, forest, regional, and national level. She has extensive experience in large-scale collaboration, sustainability, restoration, recreation, planning, tribal consultation, and socioeconomics.
Previous positions include Branch Chief for Strategic Planning, Budget and Accountability for out-year budgeting and congressional hearings in the Washington Office; acting Deputy Forest Supervisor on the Colville National Forest, District Ranger on the Prairie City Ranger District on the Malheur National Forest in Oregon. Other assignments include social scientist/economist for large-scale fire recovery, range, timber, and restoration projects on the Wallowa-Whitman, Umatilla, and Malheur National Forests in Oregon. Her background includes forest planning in the Blue Mountains for three regions; and Economist for the National Hydropower Relicensing Team. Elaine was an interdisciplinary team leader at the district level for a wide variety of projects including team leader for the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Colorado State University, a master’s degree in Whole Systems Design from Antioch University-Seattle, and is a Donella Meadows Leadership Fellow. She is also a Senior Leader Coach, certified yoga and sound practitioner. She and her husband Matthew enjoy traveling, biking, and outdoor adventures to awesome landscapes and diverse cultures.