USDA Forest Service Names Acting Supervisor for Olympic National Forest
Published 1:30 am Thursday, May 14, 2026
The USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region recently announced that Joyce Hamilla will serve as Acting Forest Supervisor for the Olympic National Forest, effective May 18.
The announcement follows the upcoming departure of Forest Supervisor Kelly Lawrence, who has accepted a position with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. She served as Forest Supervisor on the Olympic since 2020 and with the agency for 24 years.
“Joyce brings strong operational experience and a deep commitment to the Olympic’s mission,” said Regional Forester Jacque Buchanan. “We are confident that her leadership will ensure the continued, high-quality support and service our communities and the Olympic Peninsula landscapes have come to rely on.”
Hamilla has served the Forest Service for 9 years and most recently held the positions of Deputy Director for Data, Geospatial, & Information Management for the Pacific States of the Forest Service and Chief of Staff for the USFS Pacific Region. Before these roles, Joyce served as the interagency Director of the Oregon Federal Executive Board and in a number of senior leadership roles in the Diplomatic and National Security community following her time as an officer in the U.S. Air Force.
The Olympic National Forest encompasses approximately 632,000 acres on the Olympic Peninsula and manages lands for recreation, timber, watershed health, wildlife habitat, and tribal and community engagement.
