Retired Army Colonel hired as Tahoe's Deputy Forest Supervisor

Just seventeen days ago, Joel Suenkel was leading troops in Wiesbaden, Germany as an Army Colonel. The 30 year veteran of serving in the Armed Forces wrapped up his career when he retired on December 1. Just five days later he was in South Lake Tahoe in his new position as Deputy Forest Supervisor of the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit of the US Forest Service.

His first day on the job happened to be his new employer's annual Christmas party. Suenkel spent that evening meeting his new co-workers

Suenkel and Su, his wife of 25 years, have lived in many different places including Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Hawaii, but hadn't been to Lake Tahoe.

"We're excited to be here," said Suenkel. "This is a complete change of venue."

Suenkel, who has a master's degree in organizational behavior, said he'll be the new eyes at LTBMU and will be looking at the structure of the organization in the Lake Tahoe basin and see how they can best prepare for the next decade.

"We're heading in the right direction," he said. "The forests are being restored and being made available to the community."

Suenkel says he is big on thinking outside of the box, and just because things have been done one way doesn't mean that is the best way.

"Instead of it being why we can't, it's why we should," said Suenkel. He is looking forward to meeting members of the community and stakeholders in the forests.

He and Jeff Marsolais, Forest Supervisor, have spent their first week together looking at the structure of the LTBMU.

"The most reliable resource in any organization is its employees," said Suenkel. "If you treat people well, they'll succeed."

Su and Joel have two sons, ages 22 and 24. Both boys just graduated from their dad's alma matre, University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh . One stayed in the state and is working in biology, while the other is a second lieutenant in the Army. They won't be joining their parents for Christmas this year because their personal belongings are still on a boat to the US and their newly purchased home in Gardnerville hasn't closed escrow yet. Joel said they've been living out of suitcases and can't wait to settle down. A home purchase is a new thing for the couple since they've been moving with the Army around the world for the last three decades. His first purchase since moving to town was a 4x4 truck, something that has come in handy with the recent snowstorms.

The hardest thing to get used to life outside of the service so far?

"I don't have a wash and wear uniform anymore so I have to pick out clothes each day and my shirts have to be ironed."