[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 333]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    THE RETIREMENT OF DOUG MACDONALD

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PETER A. DeFAZIO

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 16, 2008

  Mr. DeFAZIO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
dedicated member of the United States Forest Service as he concludes 
his 32-plus years of service to his country. Mr. Doug Macdonald 
deserves this honor. Oregonians are grateful for his contributions to 
the wise and sustainable use of our Nation's forests.
  Doug Macdonald's personal and professional career accomplishments are 
as diverse as they are noteworthy. His loyal service and sacrifices for 
over three decades working in the communities of Oregon are a testament 
to all who use and appreciate our public lands. I would like to take a 
moment to reflect upon Doug's career as he makes the transition to life 
beyond Government service.
  Born in Yakima, Washington, Doug learned to speak Japanese before he 
spoke English because he spent time in Japan as a toddler while his 
father was serving in the Armed Forces. His family then moved to 
upstate New York where Doug gained appreciation for the outdoors at 
their home near the Catskill Mountains. After high school, Doug started 
college in Boston but the lure of the Pacific Northwest pulled him back 
to where he calls home.
  Doug joined the Army National Guard where he served his country for 6 
years. He graduated with a civil engineering degree from the University 
of Washington and in 1975 started his Forest Service career as a civil 
engineer trainee on the Willamette National Forest.
  Doug's career in the Pacific Northwest Region of the Forest Service 
included positions in the regional office in Portland, Oregon, and on 
the Malheur National Forest in John Day, Oregon. In 1986, Doug returned 
to the Willamette National Forest as the Assistant Forest Engineer and 
eventually was promoted to the Forest Engineer. In the 1990s, Doug was 
part of an international team that traveled to Indonesia for 3 or 4 
weeks per year to train Indonesian foresters to design and build 
environmentally sensitive roads. He retires as the Zone Engineer for 
the Willamette, Siuslaw, and Mt. Hood National Forests. as well as the 
Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area.
  Early in his career, Doug was instrumental in developing and 
implementing new forest road designs that were efficient, cost 
effective, and more environmentally sensitive. Doug also played a 
significant leadership role in bringing together research science and 
engineering to improve hydrologic function and fish passage on forest 
roads and culverts. In the last several years, Doug has worked 
tirelessly to enhance the facilities of the Forest Service. He has 
forged new partnerships and inspired innovation and creativity to 
reduce costs and improve the vital facilities for the entire Pacific 
Northwest Region. In my own district, Doug was responsible for 
initiating a partnership to build an interagency center to house the 
new offices for the Forest Service, the BLM, and the Oregon Military 
Department. His efforts helped save tax payers millions of dollars in 
facilities costs.
  Among Doug's numerous and exemplary accomplishments, none are more 
evident than the relationships he has built and his commitment to 
others that he tirelessly displays. Doug has touched so many people 
both in and outside the Forest Service. His caring for people has 
resulted in immeasurable benefits to the people of Oregon and our 
Nation.
  Madam Speaker, it is with great honor for me to present these 
credentials of Doug Macdonald to the House of Representatives today. It 
is clear through all of his accomplishments that he has dedicated 
himself to furthering the benefits we enjoy on public lands. All of his 
actions reflect a true leader with a sense of purpose, commitment, and 
conscience.
  As Doug departs from public service, I ask my colleagues to join me 
in delivering an appreciative tribute from a grateful nation, and best 
wishes to him and his family for a productive and rewarding retirement.

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