Garrison Reappointed as State Forester

Governor Bob McDonnell has reappointed Carl E. Garrison as State Forester of Virginia. Garrison began his leadership of the 265-employee Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) in 2004.

As state forester, Carl is responsible for protecting citizens and their property from the damages of wildfires as well as ensuring the health and productivity of almost 16 million acres – 62 percent of the state's land mass – of forestland in Virginia. He also oversees two nurseries that plant, grow and sell more than 25 million tree seedlings annually as well as 21 state forests. During the course of his 30 years as a professional forester, Garrison has worked for VDOF for 23 years and owned and operated Garrison Forestry Services Inc. in Virginia, Georgia and Texas for seven years. A graduate of Virginia Tech, Garrison is both a Registered Forester and a Certified Forester. He serves as chairman of the Southern Group of State Foresters, has a leadership role in the National Association of State Foresters, and has been very active within the Society of American Foresters throughout his career. Garrison and his wife, Sheila, live in Louisa County and have one son who is a senior at Old Dominion University.