The U.S. Forest Service Plains-Thompson Falls Ranger District has a new leader, and he's no stranger to the workings of the woods.

Curtis Rintz has worked in the forests, deserts and high mountains and is now a ranger in the Lolo National Forest. The 62-year-old took over as the district's ranger in Plains only six weeks ago and is quickly getting familiarized with his new role, the district's missions and its crew.

"I am excited to be here. It's a challenge but I love it," said Rintz, who has spent more than 20 years between the Forest Service and the National Park Service, along with a stint as a contractor in the private sector. "We are excited to welcome Curtis to Montana and our Forest," Lolo Forest Supervisor Carolyn Upton said in a recent press release. "His background, skills and experiences will be a tremendous asset to the work we do and the Plains and Thompson Falls communities," she said.

Rintz took over the position from interim ranger Dan Castillo, who is the Timber Contracting Officer for the Lolo National Forest. The previous permanent ranger was Dave Wrobleski, who is now the Bitterroot Grizzly Bear Program Manager. Rintz moved to Plains from the Lake Mead National Recreational Area, situated in Nevada and Arizona, where he was the chief of Facility Management and Engineering with the National Park Service (NPS). His assignment immediately prior to Lake Mead was also with the NPS, at the George Washington Memorial Parkway, located in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Rintz was born in Michigan, but as the son of an Air Force man, he traveled from base to base. His career with the federal government began in the mid 1980s in Tucson, Arizona, with the Forest Service and the National Park Service working in a variety of jobs - wildland firefighter, wilderness trail crew member, wilderness ranger and archaeologist. He has also served as the exhibit specialist for the NPS Intermountain Region's Historic Preservation Program. One of his Montana positions was with the NPS at the Bighorn National Recreation Area, southwest of Billings.

This is his first time as a Forest Service ranger, but it was a challenge that he looked forward to doing, for both professional and personal reasons. "One of the benefits of working in a public service agency is variety. In the National Park Service, my focus was budget and project planning, the administration and management of large complex operational programs, data management, and project portfolio development and execution," said Rintz, who most recently with the NPS took part in the development of service wide training programs.

"These are transferable skills. Professionally, I felt the desire to learn new ways of working and problem solving and, personally, to move to a rural area where resources are still abundant, and the pace of life is a little more pleasant," he said. "I've been quite fortunate in the opportunity to live and to work in some very interesting environments, and, like here in Plains, with great people," said Rintz, who has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Cultural Anthropology and Economics from the University of Arizona.

Rintz oversees a crew of nearly 30 Forest Service staff members, but the upcoming summer will add another 20 or more. He presently spends weekdays familiarizing himself with his staff and local missions and projects, as well as the community. "The comment I've heard most is the expectation of clear consistent communication to the local communities, our partners and our neighbors. And good communication is based on respectful dialogue," he said. He spends much of his weekends learning the local Lolo National Forest trails and roads by actually traveling on them.

One of his biggest projects here is his participation in the Lolo National Forest Revision Plan, which began in 2022 and will likely continue through 2026. "It's a very large and worthwhile project. The public comments are in the process of review and public engagement meetings are in the planning stage," said Rintz, who is also overseeing his staff's timber sale development, fire season preparation and resource protection.

"I am looking forward to continuing to get to know the staff and engaging with the partners and in the communities the district serves," said Rintz. "My background, dedication to public service and commitment to preserving, restoring, and managing federal lands and resources will help me start this new adventure on the Lolo National Forest."