Federal Coordinating Committee (FCC)

In June 2010, the Departments of Agriculture, Defense, and Interior formalized their commitment to the America's Longleaf Restoration Initiative and the goal of restoring 8 million acres in a Memorandum of Understanding. This landmark agreement also established the FCC, a committee to coordinate efforts among federal agencies to restore the longleaf pine ecosystem across nine Southern States. The Federal agencies are working with over 30 State agencies and NGO's who have signed a Declaration of Partnerships that commits each organization to being actively engaged in the restoration effort.

The principle agency contacts for the FCC are:

  • Department of Agriculture:
    • Ken Arney, USDA Forest Service, Regional Forester
    • James Tillman, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Sr. Regional Conservationist for the Southeast Region
  • Department of Defense:
    • Ryan Orndorff, Director of Environmental Planning & Conservation
  • Department of Interior:
    • Mike Oetker, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region

The FCC activities are supported by the following staff from the participating agencies:

  • Department of Defense:
    • Anne Jewell, Natural Resources Management Specialist (Wildland Fire)
  • National Park Service:
    • Mark Frey, Acting Chief of Science and Natural Resource Management
  • U.S. Army Corp of Engineers:
    • Jeremy Crossland, Program Manager for Land Use and Natural Resources
  • USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service:
    • Matthew Vandersande, Longleaf Partnership Initiative Coordinator
    • Tim Albritton, Alabama State Forester
  • USDA Forest Service:
    • Kay Reed, Director of Cooperative Forestry
    • Earlene Jackson, Regional Silviculturist
    • Kyle Jones, Regional Longleaf Restoration Coordinator
  • USDA Farm Service Agency:
    • T.J. Wilson, Director, Conservation Division
    • David Hoge, Agricultural Program Specialist
    • Patty Roberts, Agricultural Program Specialist
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:
    • David Gonzales, Conservation Partnerships Chief
    • Dan Frisk, Project Leader, North Florida Refuge Complex