NEWS RELEASE USDA Forest Service Washington, D.C.
Release No. 0708	Contact:	Jennifer Plyler (202) 205-0914

CIVIL RIGHTS DIRECTOR ANNOUNCED FOR U.S. FOREST SERVICE

WASHINGTON, March 27, 2007 — U.S. Forest Service Chief Gail Kimbell announced Debra Muse as the agency's Civil Rights Director. Muse comes to the Forest Service from the Department of the Army where she has worked for more than 26 years in civil rights and as the principal advisor on Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) to the Deputy and Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army.

"Muse brings a wealth of experience to the agency and will be a tremendous asset to the Civil Rights staff and the national leadership team," said Forest Service Chief Gail Kimbell. "Her outstanding management and leadership skills will help us continue and improve the strong Civil Rights program that the agency has developed over time."

As Director of EEO at Army Headquarters since 1994, Muse has provided direction and advisory support on a broad range of EEO and human relations program activities for the Department of the Army, Pentagon. Other positions held at the national level included serving as complaints manager and Federal Women's Program Manager for two years.

Prior to her assignment at Army Headquarters, Muse spent over five years in Germany where she served as a management employee relations specialist and held EEO manager positions in Kaiserslautern and Pirmasens U.S. Army military communities. She has also held EEO specialists positions at Fort Dix, New Jersey and Fort Belvoir, Virginia where she began her EEO career as a Department of the Army intern.

She resides in Fort Washington, Maryland with her husband George Muse, U.S. Army, retired. A reporting date for Muse has yet to be determined.