Forest Service 1720 Peachtree Rd NW, 763S , GA 30309 Web: http://www.fs.usda.gov/r8 News Release

Media Contact: (404) 347-4116 [email protected]

Cruz Named Director of Engineering for the Southern Region

ATLANTA (January 22, 2015) – Pablo Cruz Morales has been selected as Director of Engineering for the Southern Region of the USDA Forest Service, effective March 8.

Cruz was born and raised in Fajardo, . He graduated from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez campus, civil engineering program. His first professional job was project engineer for the Soil Conservation Service in 1978.

Cruz has dedicated his entire career to public service. For the past 22 years he has served as Forest Supervisor of El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico. He was honored to be the second island-born Forest Supervisor of El Yunque—a unique tropical forest with a rich history spanning more than 100 years.

“At El Yunque, Pablo strengthened relationships with state and federal agencies and worked tirelessly to gain visibility for his forest,” Regional Forester Tony Tooke said. “His legacy includes enhanced conservation on El Yunque’s wild and scenic rivers, Congressional protection for 10,000 acres of designated wilderness and support from local citizens and communities. That’s effective leadership.”

Cruz achieved many milestone projects for the forest, including the planning and construction of a world class El Portal Rain Forest Center. He also led efforts to change the name of the forest from Caribbean National Forest to El Yunque National Forest, to honor the close relationship that exists between the people of Puerto Rico, the native inhabitants of the island, the Taíno Indians and their forest.

In September of 1989 as part of an Incident Command Team, Cruz led forest restoration efforts in the wake of Hurricane Hugo. This was his first assignment on the island. A year later he became the first Puerto Rican district ranger of El Yunque Ranger District.

Earlier in his career Cruz worked in the office of the USDA Forest Service and two tours of duty at national forests on the mainland. His first Forest Service job was in California as a civil engineer.

Cruz completed graduate studies in forest engineering from Oregon State University, and an Executive Fellowship in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Cruz compliments his wife, Arlene Pou, on 35 years of happy marriage. He has two sons, Pablo Jr. and Andres, whom he describes as his life's greatest achievement. Pablo Jr. works in the finance industry in , and Andres is a senior at Brown University in Rhode Island.

#

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).