Meet a Forester, Kevin Khung
This month, we are pleased to feature Kevin Khung, Director of State, Private, and Tribal Forestry for the USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region.
What was your first position in the field of forestry?
My first Forest Service position was serving as a Landscape Architect. I have held various permanent and temporary positions with the Agency such as Staff Officer; District Ranger; Deputy Forest Supervisor; Forest Supervisor and Assistant Director at all levels of the organization from Districts to the Washington Office.
How long have you been in your role?
In the current role of Director of State, Private, and Tribal Forestry approximately 3 months! But with the Forest Service nearly 30 years.
What do you enjoy most about being a Western Forestry Leadership Coalition (WFLC) member?
The opportunity to learn and to collaboratively work with all of you to sustain the landscapes we live in and depend on.
What do you see to be the emerging issues in your region?
I believe our problems and issues have been consistent across my career. From my perspective, the “things” of the problems and issues are ebbing and flowing at a quicker pace. Success will take a collaborative approach, working with others is the right thing to do, but working with others is hard 😊 especially when the urgency is now.
What is your favorite tree?
That’s a hard one! I have been fortunate to live in many wonderful landscapes from New England to the Flint Hills to the Rocky Mountains. All these landscapes have a favorite tree and trees! But right now, my brain is going back to the days on New England when I was working in cemeteries (another story) and etched in those old memories is Fagus grandifolia, the American beech or North American beech!