The White River National Forest has a new supervisor.

Brian Glaspell, who has been acting supervisor since March, will assume the role as the top official for the most-visited national forest in the United States, according to a news release from the U.S. Forest Service. The Dillon Ranger District receives the most visits within White River.

“Brian is a great fit for the White River National Forest,” Regional Forester Troy Heithecker said in a statement. “He has extensive experience managing complex natural resource issues, values close coordination with stakeholders, and is passionate about many types of outdoor recreation, especially when it involves snow.” 

The 2.3-million-acre White River National Forest is home to 11 ski resorts, 10 peaks over 14,000 feet and iconic destinations such as Quandary Peak, the Maroon Bells and Hanging Lakes. Located in parts of Summit, Eagle, Pitkin, Garfield, Rio Blanco, Mesa, Gunnison, Routt and Moffat counties, it draws more than 17 million visitors a year and supports an estimated 22,000 jobs.

Glaspell fills the forest supervisor position left open after Scott Fitzwilliams voluntarily resigned earlier this year through the Trump Administration’s deferred resignation program. Fitzwilliams had spent 15 years as the supervisor of the White River National Forest.

Glaspell, who grew up in Chugiak, Alaska, and is married with two young adult children, had previously served as the Rocky Mountain regional director for strategic planning since 2023. He came to Colorado after serving as the regional chief for the National Wildlife Refuge System in Alaska, where he was responsible for the administration of Alaska’s 16 National Wildlife Refuges.

Glaspell also served as manager at the National Elk Refuge in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, manager of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and as the recreation program manager for the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wyoming, a master’s degree from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, and a PhD in Forestry-Wildland Recreation Management from the University of Montana School of Forestry.

Former White River National Forest Deputy Supervisor Heather Noel also accepted the deferred resignation option earlier this year. The White River National Forest does not currently have an acting or permanent deputy forest supervisor, but public information officer David Boyd said there are plans to fill the role, though there is no timeline.

Glaspell takes the helm of the White River National Forest as the Trump Administration’s mass layoffs and deferred resignation program have shrunk the Forest Service’s workforce, raising concerns in Colorado about the federal agency’s ability to manage public lands and the ever-present threat of wildfires.