[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 105 (Thursday, June 15, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E572-E573]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RECOGNIZING RODNEY SMOLDON

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. CATHY McMORRIS RODGERS

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 15, 2023

  Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition 
of the great achievements and outstanding leadership of Rodney Smoldon, 
who will be retiring as Forest Supervisor for the Colville National 
Forest on June 30, 2023.
  Rodney was born and raised in Eastern Washington. He graduated from 
Eastern Washington University in 1985 and has spent the last two 
decades managing the Colville National Forest, which covers 1.6 million 
acres and is known for its wild huckleberries, camping, hiking and 
horse trails, lakes, rivers, and some of the most exciting wildlife 
Mother Nature has to offer.

[[Page E573]]

  Throughout his career, Rodney served in a number of leadership roles 
in both California and Washington, including as a District Ranger on 
the Okanogan-Wenatchee, Plumas, and El Dorado National Forests. He 
returned to the Colville in 2008 as the Deputy Forest Supervisor and 
later became a Ranger. In 2015, he was named the Forest Supervisor for 
the entire Colville National Forest.
  Rodney's tenure as Forest Supervisor was defined by leadership that 
made the Colville National Forest one of the most productive national 
forests in the country. He made it his mission to champion innovative 
conservation efforts and proactive forest management strategies in the 
hopes of unleashing economic opportunities for our rural communities 
and protecting the forest for generations to come.
  And it worked. Rodney's innovative approach secured the A to Z 
Project, a public-private partnership where local communities, 
conservation groups, the recreational community, industry, and the 
forest service teamed up to proactively and collaboratively manage 
Colville National Forest. This project has been remarkably successful 
in mitigating wildfire risks in our community and serves as a national 
model for forest restoration that will improve our environment and the 
economy.
  Rodney's passion for the land, the people, and the communities he 
serves is unmatched. His career of service is proof of that. He never 
stopped searching for new ways to increase the pace and scale of 
restoration, and he would always ask why or how we could do better. 
This results-driven mindset is what empowered our partnership to be so 
successful throughout the years.
  Mr. Speaker, l will dearly miss working with my friend Rodney Smoldon 
when he retires at the end of the month, but l know the best is yet to 
come for him and his family. In honor of an illustrious career of 
dedicated service to the Colville National Forest and the entire 
Northeastern Washington community, l ask my colleagues to join me in 
congratulating Rodney Smoldon on his retirement. We wish him the best 
as he embarks on his next adventure.

                          ____________________