Leadership
Regional Forester: Ken Arney
Ken Arney
(USDA Forest Service)Ken Arney is the regional forester for the USDA Forest Service, Southern Region. He and his executive team oversee National Forest System lands that encompass 13.3 million acres across 13 southern states and Puerto Rico. During his tenure with the Southern Region, he has advanced many public and private partnerships to tackle forestry challenges facing the Southeast.
Meet the Southern Regional Executive Team
Mary Moore
(USDA Forest Service)Deputy Regional Forester for Natural Resources: Mary Moore
Mary Moore is the natural resources deputy regional forester for the USDA Forest Service, Southern Region. Moore's portfolio includes:
- Biological and Physical Resources
- Engineering
- Human Resources and Civil Rights
- Shared Stewardship
- Natural Resources and Timber
- Office of Communication
- Pipeline Infrastructure
- Planning
- Recreation, Wilderness, Heritage and Volunteer Services
- Resource Information Management
- Workforce Planning
Deputy Regional Forester for State, Private, and Tribal Forestry: Ed Hunter
Ed Hunter
(USDA Forest Service)Edward "Ed" Hunter is the deputy regional forester for state, private and tribal forestry for the USDA Forest Service, Southern Region. Hunter's portfolio includes:
- Administrative Services Group
- Budget and Finance
- Cooperative Forestry
- Fire and Aviation Management
- Forest Health Protection
- Grants and Agreements
- Gulf Restoration
- Lands, Minerals and Special Uses
- Recruiting
- Safety, Health and Wellness
Deputy Regional Forester for Disaster: Micah Thorning
Micah Thorning
(USDA Forest Service)Micah Thorning is the deputy regional forester for disaster recovery for the USDA Forest Service, Southern Region.
In late September and early October of 2024, hurricanes Helene and Milton had an unprecedented impact on Southern communities ranging from Florida to Virginia and as far west as Texas. Thorning's portfolio builds on existing relationships with state, federal, non-governmental organizations, local governments and tribal nations to:
- Maintain and improve public safety and critical access
- Ensure we plan and build for long-term resilience to future storms and floods
- Support economic recovery and community infrastructure needs
- Engage in planning and implementation of recovery efforts with an emphasis on hazardous fuels reduction and ecological restoration