Tennessee Forestry Commission
The Tennessee Forestry Commission was established in 1985 and advises the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and the governor on forest policy.
The Commission formulates and recommends programs of fire protection, reforestation and seedling production, forestry assistance to private landowners, educational and informational programs to enhance understanding of the value and management of the forest resource, management of state forests, urban tree management, development of markets for Tennessee forest products, protection from insect and disease epidemics, and protection of the soil and water quality.
The Commission is also charged with selecting three candidates for state forester, approving an annual budget prepared by the state forester, preparing an annual report, making recommendations to the legislature on forest policy, approving the forestry division long-range plan, and formulating and recommending any policies that further forest protection and management.
Each member is appointed by the governor and serves for a five-year term, with a limit of two terms. Full roles and responsibilities of the commission can be found in the Tenn. Code Ann. § 11-4-201.
2025- 2026 Contact List
John Charles Wilson, Chairman
560 Orr Road, Arlington, TN 38002
Contact Number: (O) 901-757-7777, (C) 901-359-0307
Email Address: johncharleswilson01@gmail.com
Memphis - Represents conservation organizations
Term Expires: 06/30/2027 (2nd Term)
Dr. Sharon Jean-Philippe, Vice Chairman
274 Ellington Plant Sciences Building, Knoxville, TN 37996
Contact Number: (O) 865-974-2946
Email Address: jeanphil@utk.edu
Represents: Public at large
Knoxville - Represents public at large
Term Expires: 6/30/2027 (2nd Term)
Bill Legg, Secretary
P. O. Box 188, Westpoint, TN 38486
Contact Number: 931-242-6000
Email Address: legg@lorretotel.net
Westpoint - Represents forest landowners of less than 500 acres
Term Expires: 6/30/2026 (1st Term)
Mark Rogers
478 Loop Road, Caryville, TN 37714
Contact Numbers: 434-660-9666
Email Address: mark.rogers@tnc.org
Caryville - Represents owners of greater than 500 acres
Term Expires: 6/30/2029 (1st Term)
Jacob Franklin Almond
340 Speers Road, Kingston, TN 37763
Contact Numbers: 865-806-6533
Email Address: jake.almond@afmforest.com
Kingston - Represents owners of less than 500 acres
Term Expires: 6/30/2029 (1st Term)
Tom Midyett
667 Kenesaw Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37919
Contact Number: 865-567-7830
Email Address: TMidyett@aol.com
Knoxville - Represents pulp and paper manufacturers
Term Expires: 6/30/2026 (2nd Term)
Drew Getty
190 Green Hills Drive, Winchester, TN 37398
Contact Number: 931-308-6344
Email Address:drew@thompsonappalachian
Huntland - Represents hardwood industry
Term Expires: 6/30/2027 (1st Term)
Jason Maxedon, Ex-Officio
Director of Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
P. O. Box 40747, Nashville, TN 37204
Contact Number: 615-781-6552
David W. Salyers, Ex-Officio
Director Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation
TDEC – Bureau of Parks and Conservation
312 Rosa L. Parks Blvd, Floor 2, Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Contact Number: 615-532-0437
Dr. Charles Hatcher, Ex-Officio
Commissioner – Tennessee Department of Agriculture
440 Hogan Road, Nashville, TN 37220
Contact Number: 615-837-5100
Heather Slayton, State Forester
Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Division of Forestry
P. O. Box 40627, Melrose Station, Nashville, TN 37204
Contact Number: (O) 615-837-5435, (C) 615-218-4377
Tennessee Code Annotated Section 8-44-103 requires public notice of meetings of all government bodies whose actions can affect public policy. The following notice is hereby given:
TENNESSEE FORESTRY COMMISSION TO MEET
The Tennessee Forestry Commission will meet Aug. 25, 2023 at Ellington Agricultural Center in Nashville, Tenn.
The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. CDT in the Moss Building conference room located at 440 Hogan Road. The meeting is open to the public to attend.
The agenda includes approval of the previous meeting’s minutes, approval of the Division of Forestry budget, an update on the landowner assistance strategic plan, and a summary of the workforce development partnership with Cul2vate.
A portion of the meeting will be reserved for public comment, which may be submitted either orally or in writing regarding business before the commission.