Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest describes leadership changes

The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, headquartered in Dillon, announced Wednesday changes in leadership dating back to May 2025.

That’s when Al Watson, then Forest Supervisor, took retirement as U.S. Forest Service employment responded to pressures from the Trump administration.

Watson had been supervisor for the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest for less than a year but had roughly 30 years of experience with the agency.

Corey Lewellen has served as acting Forest Supervisor since Watson’s retirement. Lewellen began his role as Deputy Forest Supervisor in January 2025. Lewellen has worked in a variety of roles within the agency, including the last 12 years as a District Ranger on the Townsend and Bozeman Ranger Districts.

Meanwhile, Madison District Ranger Dale Olson, who held the position for more than a decade, retired in June. Josh Connors became the new District Ranger in August.

The Forest Service said Connors has a strong background in land management, with experience as a private‑sector engineer, an engineer with the Bureau of Land Management, and most recently with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service National Technology and Development Program in Missoula. He has also served in the U.S. Peace Corps.

Connors graduated from Montana Technological University.

Born in Sheridan and raised in Dillon, he is deeply familiar with southwest Montana, the Forest Service said.

“Southwest Montana has shaped who I am,” Connors said. “I’m grateful to return and help steward the Forest Service lands that have been part of my life since childhood.”

Beginning in April, the forest will welcome Nate Gassman as acting Deputy Forest Supervisor, while Lewellen continues as acting Forest Supervisor. Gassman has spent 10 years as the Libby District Ranger on the Kootenai National Forest. He has more than 25 years of natural resource experience, including recreation management roles on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge, Custer Gallatin and Flathead national forests, the Forest Service said.

“I’m looking forward for the chance to support a great forest, great communities and great people who get meaningful work done every single day,” Gassman said in a news release.

In the same release, Lewellen shared thoughts about the personnel changes.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have Josh as our Madison District Ranger and to welcome Nate as our Acting Deputy Forest Supervisor,” Lewellen said. “Josh has already led through a variety of complex situations, including the Bivens and Cloudrest fires and we are grateful for Nate’s willingness to support the forest at this time, on a variety of important projects.”

The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest is Montana’s largest national forest by acreage, with more than 3.4 million acres.