As of this month, two key leadership positions on the Deschutes National Forest are in new hands.

Shane Jeffries, District Ranger of the Bend-Ft. Rock Ranger District since 2008, is the new Deputy Forest Supervisor for the Deschutes National Forest and Maurice Evans, previously the Forest Fuels Specialist for the Deschutes National Forest, is now the Redmond Air Center Manager.

Shane Jeffries, prior to his position as Bend-Ft. Rock District Ranger, was the District Ranger for the McCall Ranger District on the Payette National Forest in Idaho for 3 years. He graduated from the University of Idaho with a B.S. in Wildlife Biology in 1991. Since that time he has worked for the Forest Service in Idaho, Oregon, and California in a variety of leadership and wildlife biologist positions.

Shane spends his free time recreating outdoors with his wife Pam, four sons, and five grandchildren. He particularly enjoys fishing the lakes and rivers of Central Oregon. Shane takes over as Deputy Forest Supervisor, following Mary Farnsworth?s promotion to Forest Supervisor on the Idaho Panhandle National Forest.

Maurice Evans started with the Forest Service in 1992 as a Forester on the Appalachicola Ranger District on the National Forest of Florida. In 1996, he became the Assistant Fire Management Officer in Fuels Planning on the Bend-Ft. Rock Ranger District. In 2004, he became the Forest Fuels Specialist on the Deschutes National Forest until this recent promotion to the Redmond Air Center Manager. He takes over the position from Dan Torrance, who retired in January.

Evans has a B.S. Degree in Agricultural Business and Agricultural Science from Florida A&M University and a B.S. Degree in Resource and Conservation from the University of Florida. In addition to his work, Maurice spends time with his wife Christy and two boys, J.T., 16, and Isaiah, 11. He is passionate about youth sports and is a basketball referee at both the High-School and Collegiate levels throughout Oregon.

?I am excited for the leadership and experience Shane and Maurice will bring to their new roles on the Forest. I believe they both possess a strong desire to serve the national forest lands and people of Central Oregon,? said John Allen, Forest Supervisor for the Deschutes National Forest.