PEDRO — The Wayne National Forest’s Heritage Program manager recently received a 2024 Chief’s Honor Award for his contributions to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. 

Andy Tremayne, who also serves as the WNF’s archaeologist and tribal liaison, received the award in the Developing Tribal and Equity-Centered Partnerships category. The cross-regional team includes employees who collaborated in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the Forest Service’s recreation, heritage and volunteer resources program areas. 

Along with Eastern Region team members Troy Ferone and J. Gavin Hale, Tremayne hosted nine college students and their faculty advisors for Cultural Heritage in the Forest. The program was a hands-on internship for students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), training them in cultural resources management, historic preservation, and conservation.

“We’re very proud to see achievements from our region recognized at this level,” said Regional Forester Tony Dixon. “Congratulations to all the awardees, and especially those from the Eastern Region.” 

The Chief’s Honor Award represents the highest achievement in the agency and the recipients were chosen from across the nation for their outstanding accomplishments in meeting strategic goals.

A Utah native, Tremayne holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alaska, a master’s degree from the University of Wyoming and a doctoral degree from the University of California-Davis, all in anthropology.

The U.S. Forest Service is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Its mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the country’s 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. Its public lands contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year and provide 20 percent of the country’s clean water supply. For more information, visit www.fs.usda.gov.