About Us
Established as a state agency in 1924, the mission of the Alabama Forestry Commission is to protect Alabama’s forests, assist landowners in carrying out responsible forest management, and to educate Alabamians on the value our forests provide.
Our Board of Commissioners
The Forestry Commission is governed by a seven-member Board of Commissioners
appointed by the Governor of Alabama.
Left to right: Robert P. Sharp, Chris Langley, Vice-Chair: Caroleene Dobson,
Michelle Isenberg, Joseph H. Twardy, and Chair: Thornton Stanley
To find out more about our board of commissioners or view meeting dates and minutes, click here.
From the desk of the State Forester
Rick Oates
Rick Oates was appointed the State Forester of Alabama in April 2017. In this role, he leads the Alabama Forestry Commission. The agency is charged with protecting and sustaining Alabama’s 23 million acres of forestland and educating the public about the importance of forestry to the environment and economy of the state.
Rick has previously worked at the Alabama Farmers Federation as the Forestry and Wildlife Division Director and as the Executive Director of the Alabama TREASURE Forest Association. Before that, he served as Chief of Staff for Alabama’s Commissioner of Agriculture, John McMillan, and for 18 years in a variety of roles at the Alabama Forestry Association.
Oates has a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, and a M.S. in Forestry from Auburn University. Oates grew up in Texas and has lived in Alabama since 1990.
Rick and his wife, Kelly, have two children and live in Montgomery, Alabama.
From the desk of the Assistant
State Forester
Will Brantley
William H. Brantley, Jr. officially assumed the responsibilities of Assistant State Forester of Alabama in September 2020. With more than 25 years of experience in natural resources management, he possesses a strong understanding of the issues and programs involving Alabama’s forests, lands, and waters. A registered forester in the state of Alabama, Will holds a bachelor’s degree from Furman University and a Master of Science in Forest Resources from Clemson University.
Brantley began his career with the Alabama Forestry Commission in November of 2017, serving as Director of the Forest Management Division. Before joining the AFC, Brantley was employed with the State Lands Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources for 16 years where he served in several capacities. Brantley was also the natural resource planner for the Baldwin County Commission. Prior to that, he worked as a utility inventory arborist with Davey Resource Group in northern California.
A native of Greenville, South Carolina, Will and his wife, Eve, now reside in Auburn. They have two children, Chloe and Hank.
The people make the place
Leadership Team
Hank Burch
Asset Planning Director
John Goff
Forest Protection
Division Director
Scott Rouse
General Counsel
Dana Stone
Forest Management
Division Director
Meet the Regional Foresters
Brad Lang
Northwest Regional Forester
Cedric Hudson
Southwest Regional Forester
Jason Dockery
Northeast Regional Forester
Andy Guy
Southeast Regional Forester