Office of the Chief

Dale Bosworth Chief (Biography)

Welcome to the web site of the USDA Forest Service Chief’s Office! In case you’re new to the Forest Service, our purpose is twofold: (1) to make sure that America’s forests and grasslands are in the healthiest condition they can be; and (2) to see to it that you have lots of opportunities to use, enjoy, and care for the lands and waters that sustain us all. Our focus at the Forest Service is on the ground—on the places where you live, work, and play. Above all, we’re dedicated to keeping everyone on the ground safe and secure. Our goal is to serve our communities, both rural and urban. One way is to work with partners for healthy, resilient forests and rangelands on federal, state, and private lands. Healthy lands support the outdoor activities of millions of Americans each year, a service we proudly provide on the National Forest System. A central concern for all Americans is sustainable land management. We owe it to ourselves and to future generations to protect our communities, properties, and wildland resources from catastrophic fire and other threats. You own your national forests and grasslands, and we are here to serve you. As you browse our website, please think of ways we can better serve you and let us know.

Sally Colllins Associate Chief (Biography)

Chief's Office Staff

Chief's Biography

Dale N. Bosworth became the 15th Chief of the Forest Service on April 12, 2001.

Prior to his selection as chief, Bosworth served as regional forester for the Northern Region of the Forest Service, headquartered in Missoula, Montana, since August 1997. He had been in a similar position as regional forester for the Intermountain Region in Ogden, Utah since 1994.

Bosworth began his career in the Northern Region as a forester on the St. Joe National Forest (now a part of the Idaho Panhandle National Forest) in Idaho, and later served on the Kanisksu, Colville, and Lolo National Forests. He was later promoted to district ranger on the Clearwater National Forest. Bosworth next moved to the Flathead National Forest as the planning staff officer before becoming the deputy forest supervisor there. He then moved to Missoula as the assistant director for land management planning for the Northern Region, where he was involved with the development of forest plans.

In 1986, Bosworth was named forest supervisor of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest in Utah in the Intermountain Region. From there, in 1990, he became deputy director of forest management in the Forest Service national headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he served until 1992, when he became deputy regional forester for the Pacific Southwest Region, headquartered in San Francisco, California. From that position, Bosworth was promoted to regional forester for the Intermountain Region in 1994.

Bosworth was born in Altadena, California, and holds a B.S. degree in forestry from the University of Idaho. He is a member of both the Society of American Foresters and the Society for Range Management.

Dale and his wife, Carma, are the parents of a daughter, Kristy, and a son, Neil.

Associate Chief's Biography

Sally Collins was named associate chief for the USDA Forest Service August 2001.

Prior to her selection as associate chief, Collins had been the associate deputy chief for the National Forest System since April 2000, and prior to that was the forest supervisor for the Deschutes National Forest in Oregon for seven years. Over her 18 years in public service and resource management, Collins has worked for both the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management in Oregon and Colorado. In addition to serving as forest supervisor she has held positions as deputy forest supervisor, assistant planner, wilderness specialist, environmental coordinator, and mineral leasing coordinator. Just before coming to Washington, DC, she chaired an advisory board with the Chancellor of Higher Education in Oregon in developing a proposal for a new 4-year institution of higher education.

Collins was born in Ames, Iowa. She holds a master’s degree in public administration with an emphasis in natural resource management from the University of Wyoming, and a bachelor’s degree in outdoor recreation from the University of Colorado.

Her spouse, John, is an oceanographer and their daughter, Casey, is a junior at the University of New Hampshire. Interest include many outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking, canoeing and cycling.