Forest Supervisor, Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument
Teresa Benson has served as the Forest Supervisor of the Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument since 2018. Teresa’s leadership focuses on sustainable natural resources, while also managing for a safe and enjoyable experience for staff, volunteers, partners and the visiting public. Priority areas include fuels management, restoration of fire-impacted landscapes, and providing quality visitor services. Teresa’s current goals include completion of the Revised Land Management Plan for the Sequoia National Forest, construction of a new Supervisor’s Office in Porterville, and expanding partnerships with local, state and national entities.
Teresa graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University with a B.S. in Forestry and Wildlife. She started her career with the US Forest Service in 1990, as a wildlife biologist on the Sequoia National Forest. She served as Resource Manager, District Manager, District Ranger and Deputy Forest Supervisor on national forests in Alaska and California before moving into her current position.
Teresa and her husband, Andy, consider the Southern Sierra to be their home. They love to travel, hike, camp, spend time with their grandchildren, and explore favorite parts of the Sequoia National Forest.
Areas of Expertise: land management, wetland restoration, fuels management, forest restoration