The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDOA) Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, D.V.M., announced Wednesday that he, along with Gov. Bill Lee (R), appointed a new state forester.
Heather Slayton is now the Tennessee State Forester and assistant commissioner for the Forestry Division, according to a release from TDOA.
“This is an exciting period of transition for the department,” Hatcher said. “We are indebted to [Former Commissioner David Arnold] for his visionary leadership and we are proud that Heather is taking on this challenge.”
Arnold is retiring after 33 years with the forestry division.
“David is known and respected for his tremendous commitment to our staff and the people we serve,” Hatcher said. “His thoughtful demeanor, kind nature, and informative approach make him an outstanding manager and human being. David leaves an incredible legacy that Heather will be able to build on. Heather brings to this role a great deal of insight and professional experience. She is recognized and valued among our team and our stakeholders as an innovative thinker focused on the future of forestry in Tennessee.”
As part of her new job, Slayton (pictured above) will “oversee 400 division staff members and the management of more than 168,000 acres of state-owned forests.”
“Additionally, she will direct programs to assist forest landowners, provide quality tree seedlings, support forest health, collect forest inventory data, aid forest industries, and prevent and suppress wildland fires,” the release said.
Slayton has two decades under her belt in forestry in the private, corporate, and public sectors.
She joined TDOA in 2012 as a forest health specialist and was later promoted to lead the Forest Health and Sustainability Unit. In 2018, she became assistant state forester.
“I am honored and thrilled to be appointed the 10th State Forester for Tennessee,” Slayton said. “David has provided me with a solid foundation for a seamless transition. The Division is in the best position it has ever been in to capitalize on opportunities and partnerships, all while strengthening the way we protect, conserve, and enhance the forests of Tennessee.”
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on X / Twitter.
