Dr. Donald Eggen, forest health manager with DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry, was honored early this month for leadership and accomplishments in forest health and aviation safety at the 2015 Gypsy Moth Program Managers Meeting, sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Health Program.

In making the presentation at Starved Rock State Park, Oglesby, Ill., Robert Rabagli of the USFS FHP, described Eggen as “a leader affecting positive change in forest health monitoring, management and aviation safety for over three decades.

Working out of the bureau’s Harrisburg headquarters, Eggen oversees forest pest management efforts across the state that address the gypsy moth, emerald ash borer, hemlock wooly adelgid and many other forest pests.

“He was a principal advocate in establishing and Chairing the Aerial Application Safety Council; is regularly engaged with the Forest Health Monitoring and Aerial Survey Working Groups; and frequently orchestrates key meetings and training for state a federal personnel,” said Rabagli. “Don routinely emerges as a positive and well-respected expert, going far beyond the duties of his position and settling for nothing less than excellence in forest health and aviation safety.”

The federal forestry official noted Eggen’s “efforts have significantly influenced and measurably contributed toward an exceptional safety record not only for his state personnel, but for FHP and partner organizations nationally.”

(Reprinted from DCNR’s August 26 Resource newsletter.  Click Here to sign up for your own copy (bottom of the page).)

8/31/2015