[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 156 (Friday, September 10, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E963]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE CHIEF VICKI 
                  CHRISTIANSEN FOR 40 YEARS OF SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RICHARD HUDSON

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 10, 2021

  Mr. HUDSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Forest Service Chief 
Vicki Christiansen for 40 years of service to the protection and 
management of our nation's forests.
  Chief Christiansen began her career in forest service with the 
Washington State Department of Natural Resources before joining the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service eleven years ago. She 
recently retired as Forest Service Chief where she oversaw operations 
of more than 30,000 employees nationwide.
  Chief Christiansen's career accomplishments demonstrate her strong 
leadership skills and steadfast commitment to preserving and improving 
our nation's environmental well-being. She began her distinguished 
career as a wild land firefighter with the Washington State Department 
of Natural Resources before advancing to become Washington State 
Forester, Arizona State Forester, Forest Service Deputy Director for 
Fire and Aviation Management, and Forest Service Deputy Chief for State 
and Private Forestry.
  Appointed Forest Service Chief in 2018, Christiansen administered 
positive change while successfully managing intense episodes of crisis. 
She is revered by her colleagues for improving workplace safety, 
productivity, and culture as well as her resilient and calculated 
responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, economic distress suffered by the 
agency, and disruptive natural occurrences such as wildfires and 
hurricanes. Furthermore, her collaboration with State and local actors 
played an instrumental role in improving community engagement in 
forestry protection nationwide. Through hard work and leadership that 
sparked long-lasting change, Chief Christiansen's legacy will serve as 
a model for future Forest Service Chiefs to emulate.
  I would like to extend my most heartfelt appreciation to Chief 
Christiansen for her years of exemplary service to the U.S. Department 
of Agriculture Forest Service and multiple state forest service 
agencies. I know I speak for our entire community in wishing her and 
her family continued success and happiness as she moves into 
retirement.
  Madam Speaker, please join me today in honoring Forest Service Chief 
Vicki Christiansen for her 40 years of service in forest protection and 
management.

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