NATIONAL FORESTS -- Robert Sanchez, a 10-year career Forest Service employee and University of Idaho alumnus, has been  named District Ranger of the Republic Ranger District, based out of Republic, Wash.

Colville National Forest Supervisor Laura Jo West announced the appointment last week.

Sanchez will be coming to Republic in September from the Mendocino National Forest, based in Willows, Calif., where he is the forest hydrologist.

Read on for details on Sanchez's career

Sanchez began his career in the Forest Service while attending the University of Idaho, where he earned a degree in Forest Resources, Watershed Management.

He went on to work as a hydrologist on the Panhandle National Forests (Avery, and Coeur d’Alene, ID) the Helena National Forest (Helena, MT), the Clearwater National Forest (Potlatch, and Orofino, ID),

While hydrology has been Sanchez’s primary job, he has also had an array of other assignments, including wildland firefighter, part of a fire management team, acting District Ranger and Forest Burned Area Emergency Response Team coordinator.

Sanchez will be joined in Republic by his wife Jess, their two sons Andre and Drake, and their family dog.

Sanchez said he enjoys hunting, fishing, camping, cooking, gardening and rock hounding.

He is scheduled to start his new position September 12, 2011.