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Tara Mackleit, a Dayton, Wash. native, and after 28 years with the Forest Service, is promoted to serve as the new Umatilla National Forest District Ranger in Pomeroy.
PENDLETON, Ore.–A new Umatilla National Forest District Ranger has been selected, Tara Mackleit, announced Umatilla National Forest Supervisor Eric Watrud. She currently serves as the Fire Management Officer for Pomeroy Ranger District. This promotion provides a seamless transition for the Forest and the district.
"The Umatilla is fortunate to have such a passionate, experienced, and highly qualified individual on the forest leadership team," Watrud said. "Tara's demonstrated success at actively managing lands across tens of thousands of acres in the Blue Mountains, and protecting communities and building partnerships, are outstanding complements to the important work our Forest undertakes to serve current and future generations."
As Pomeroy District Ranger, Tara will bring many years of experience to the Umatilla National Forest working with a variety of public stakeholders, partners, Tribal governments, County Commissioners, and other federal agencies. She is currently the Pomeroy Fire Management Officer since 2021 and been working on the Pomeroy Ranger District since 1997. She has served in several leadership roles in the fire and fuels management program, and in supporting planning and implementing vegetation management projects across the landscape.
A Dayton, Wash. native, Tara has a passion for the field of natural resource and fire management. She has served in the U.S. Forest Service for the past 28 years and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resources from Washington State University. "I look forward to working with all of you and I am excited to continue to be a part of the Umatilla National Forest and continue to develop our relationships with the local communities and organizations of Southeast Washington and Northeast Oregon," said Tara.
In her free time, Tara volunteers for 4-H and Lewis Clark Neptunes Swimming. She enjoys weekends of camping, vacationing with friends and family, and time spent on the bleachers at swimming and volleyball events.
More information about Umatilla National Forest is available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/umatilla.
