Mark Tucker, Rangeland Management Program Lead since 2001, has retired after 30 years on the San Juan National Forest.
Tucker grew up on a small ranch in Livermore. His grandfather was a brand inspector, who conducted business on horseback out of Sacramento.
After serving in the Marine Corps, Tucker graduated from Humboldt State University in Northern California with a major in range management and minor in soil science. He began his federal career in 1976 as a seasonal in timber, wildlife and range on the Sequoia National Forest.
In 1979, Tucker headed to the Medicine Bow National Forest and Thunder Basin National Grasslands. In 1983, he was resource assistant for the Med Bow's Laramie Peak Ranger District. He also became a Certified Professional in Range Management.
In 1985, Tucker landed on the SJNF Dolores Ranger District as range conservationist. He also served details on the Monti-LaSal National Forest as acting Monticello District Ranger and acting range staff for the combined San Juan/Rio Grande national forests.
One of Tucker's career passions has been to increase awareness of noxious weeds. Over the years, he negotiated many cooperative agreements with counties and partners.
"I'm proud of maintaining and improving partnerships and agreements with local cooperators, contractors and permittees to manage drought, invasives, fire rehab and other issues," Tucker said. Retirement plans include golf, fire assignments and "being a tourist in the woods."
Rowdy Wood will fill in behind Tucker on special detail as San Juan National Forest Rangeland Management Program Lead over the summer. Wood left the San Juan in 2009 and is now range staff officer on the Lewis and Clark and Helena national forests. He started with the forest service in 1986 on the Bighorn National Forest as trails foreman and Hotshot crew member.
