News Release
USDA Forest Service
Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
Contact: Deb Dietzman, 651-260-7319
NEWTOWN SQUARE, PENNSYLVANIA, Aug. 25, 2005 – U.S. Department of
Agriculture Forest Service Deputy Chief for Research Ann Bartuska today announced the
selection of Michael T. Rains as acting director for the North Central Research Station,
headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. Rains currently serves as the director of the Northeastern
Research Station, headquartered in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, and will continue in that
capacity.
Over the next year, Rains will lead an effort to bring together the North Central and
Northeastern stations into a new Northern Research Station serving a 20-state region in the
Northeast and Midwest.
“Michael has demonstrated an exceptional ability to work with diverse interests to build
strong partnerships. His prior experience as the director of the Northeastern Area, State and
Private Forestry, and Deputy Chief for State and Private Forestry will be extremely valuable in
forming an innovative, efficient science organization that improves people’s lives and sustains
natural resources,” said Bartuska.
The proposed Northern Research Station will allow the Forest Service to use its finite
resources more wisely to better meet the science needs of a wide range of customers throughout
the 20-state region. Benefits will include an integrated, cohesive landscape-scale research
program, a better utilized workforce, and fewer work redundancies. The headquarters will be in
Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. Existing offices will remain in operation so movement of current
employees will be minimal.
“I’m honored by the opportunity to bring together a new research organization that will
build on the collective scientific capacity and strengths of both existing stations to deliver more
and better science and achieve overall operating efficiencies,” said Rains.
During his career, Rains has held various positions across the country and in the Forest
Service national headquarters in a variety of program areas including timber management,
watershed restoration, budget planning and development, information systems and administration,
state and private forestry, and research. He started his professional career as a wildland
firefighter in California in the mid-1960s. Rains became Director of the Northeastern Research
Station in November 2001. Prior to his current position, Rains served as Deputy Chief, State and
Private Forestry. He holds a bachelor’s degree in forest management and a master’s degree in
watershed management from Humboldt State University in Arcata, California. Currently, Rains is
completing a program in secondary education at West Chester University of Pennsylvania.
Rains assignment will be effective, October 1, 2005.
###