New Nevada Forestry Division administrator named

CARSON CITY — Joe Freeland, a fire and natural resource manager for three decades, was named top administrator Friday for the Nevada Forestry Division.

Freeland's appointment as Nevada state forester was announced by Leo Drozdoff, director of the Conservation and Natural Resources Department. He replaces Bob Roper, who is leaving for personal reasons.

Freeland had been the senior fire and aviation adviser for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in Washington, D.C.

A native of New Mexico, he spent about half of his 31-year career in Nevada, including in Battle Mountain, Elko, Caliente and Las Vegas.

"Joe has served as a local, regional and national manager of fire and natural resource programs and has managed multimillion-dollar budgets," Drozdoff said in a statement.

Freeland has held numerous positions, from wildland firefighters to a Type II incident commander. He's also considered an expert in the use of prescribed burns, the agency said.

Freeland will assume the post April 4. The job pays a salary of about $107,000 annually.