The Virginia Department of Forestry has a new state forester.
Governor Ralph Northam appointed Rob Farrell, a Virginia native, as the eighth State Forester in the department's 104-year history.
"It's an honor to be appointed as Virginia's state forester by Governor Northam, and I look forward to leading the Virginia Department of Forestry in support of the Northam administration," Farrell said. "The agency's mission remains the same. We will protect Virginia's forest and citizens from wildfire and will be ready to respond to other natural disasters and emergencies. We will continue to help forest landowners manage and grow their forests.