James Settelmeyer, Director of the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, announced on Mar. 9 the appointment of Ryan S. Shane as State Forester Firewarden and Administrator of the Nevada Division of Forestry. Shane becomes the ninth leader of the agency since it was established in 1957.
The appointment follows a search that included input from leaders with the Nevada Fire Chiefs Association and Battle Born Firefighters Association. The selection is significant for wildfire preparedness and land management efforts across Nevada.
Governor Joe Lombardo said, “Ryan Shane is a proven leader who understands the importance of protecting Nevada’s communities, forests and rangelands from the threat of wildfire. Under his leadership, Nevada will continue setting the standard for wildfire preparedness and resilient land management.”
Settelmeyer said, “Ryan has spent nearly two decades serving Nevada and protecting our landscapes at the Division. His experience in forestry, wildfire operations, and partnership-driven land management makes him well-suited to lead the Nevada Division of Forestry.”
Shane is a lifelong Nevadan from Carson City with degrees in forestry, rangeland management, and natural resource science from the University of Nevada, Reno. He joined NDF as a forester in 2008 after working as an environmental consultant. Over his career at NDF, he has led projects focused on wildfire resilience and forest health throughout Nevada. He also gained experience in wildfire suppression and prescribed fire operations while serving on Complex Incident Management Teams.
In 2014, Shane moved to NDF’s State Office in Carson City before advancing to Deputy Administrator of Operations in 2021. In that role, he helped implement legislative and federal investments aimed at reducing wildfire risk and restoring landscapes while supporting regulatory modernization based on scientific research.
“I’m honored to serve as Nevada’s State Forester Firewarden,” said Shane. “Building on the strong partnerships already in place, we will continue working across the state to reduce wildfire risk, improve forest and rangeland resilience, and protect Nevada’s communities by strengthening our statewide wildfire preparedness.”
The Department provides grants for conservation projects across recreation areas according to its official website. It addresses issues such as wildfire prevention and habitat protection to support community well-being according to its official website. The department manages 27 state parks throughout Nevada as detailed on its official website.
The Department operates within state government structure as indicated on its official website and works to safeguard natural assets while promoting public health and economic growth per its official website. Settelmeyer leads as director alongside deputies Dominique Etchegoyhen and Chad Stephens according to its official website.
