Dave Myers, who has served the U.S. Forest Service for 26 years, was recently appointed deputy supervisor for Wasatch-Cache National Forest, headquartered in Salt Lake City.

The forest covers nearly 1.3 million acres in Utah and Wyoming, and includes seven wilderness areas, according to the agency.

Faye Krueger, the forest supervisor, called Myers "a strong leader with a diverse background . . . (who is) well prepared for the unique challenges of an urban forest like the Wasatch-Cache."

According to a press release, Myers grew up in California and earned a degree in range management from Humboldt State University, Arcata, Calif., in 1980.

He started his career that year as a range management specialist for the Forest Service Intermountain Region. For 15 years he worked on the Caribou, Humboldt, Uinta and Payette national forests. He later transferred to Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest, located in the Rocky Mountain Region, and served as range staff officer.

For the past eight years, Myers has been a district ranger on the Bighorn and Shoshone national forests in Wyoming. He has worked with fire management, including suppression, logistics and controlled burns.

"While he's not expected to work the fire line in his new position," the release said, "his experience will greatly benefit the Wasatch-Cache's fire and fuels program."