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Station Leadership - The Director and Assistant Directors of FPL

The Directors Office

Theodore H. Wegner, Acting Director of FPL

Throughout its 100-plus years of public service, The Forest Products Laboratory has conducted innovative wood and fiber utilization research that contributes to the conservation and productivity of forest resources and sustainably to meet the needs of people for forest products.

Today, as in the past, America's forests are an essential asset that can help our nation work through important issues such as achieving energy security, revitalizing our economy in the 21st Century, creating jobs, successfully competing in the global economy, and sequestering carbon with forest products. The Forest Products Laboratory is working toward new utilizations of science and technology to better help us with the preceding issues, along with three other important areas where forest biomass utilization contributes to:

Sustainably maintaining and improving forest health, condition, and ecosystem function
Reducing the ravages of wild fire
Helping prevent conversion of forests to non-forest uses by providing economic returns to offset forest management and other costs

The Forest Products Laboratory seeks to work in partnership with public and private forest land managers, the private sector overall, and colleges, universities and research organizations to carry out a forward-looking and innovative research program.
Emerging research at FPL includes developing advanced structures and green buildings, deriving energy and useful chemicals from forest biomass, creating advanced composite materials and technologies, and exploring the unique properties of wood on the nanoscale.

Foundational research areas include finding uses for woody biomass to improve forest health and boost rural economies, recycling and reuse of wood and paper products, and contributing to the development of codes and standards for wood-based construction and products.

Wood, Fiber and Composites Research

	Jane D. Kohlman, Administrative Assistant

In addition, Ted Wegner has been an Assistant Director of the Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) since 1989 and currently oversees the units that comprise the Wood, Fiber and Composites Research group. Wegner has been instrumental within the Forest Service and forest Products industry in advancing nanotechnology and the forest biorefinery concepts. He is a member of the Technical Association of the Forest Products Industry, the Forest Products Society, the Society of Wood Science and Technology, the Pulp and Paper Education and Research Alliance, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the American Chemical Society, the Materials Research Society, Sigma Xi--the North American Research Society, and Alpha Chi Sigma-Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Fraternity. Wegner holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin (BS) and the University of Illinois (MS/PhD).

Units Engineered Composites Science (RWU 4706) Fiber and Chemical Sciences Research (RWU 4709) Institute for Microbial and Biochemical Sciences (RWU 4712) Performance Enhanced Biopolymers (RWU 4707)

Wood Products Research

Michael A. Ritter, Assistant Director	Judy V. Wegner, Administrative Assistant

As the Assistant Director for Wood Products Research group at FPL, Mike provides program oversight for the units conducting research in the areas of wood anatomy, wood engineering, biodeterioration of wood, protection from decay, fire, and weathering, and evaluation of the economics of wood utilization. He also heads the Advanced Housing Research Center at the Forest Products Laboratory which evaluates and develops technology for both new and existing housing in which wood and/or wood-based products are used as primary or secondary building components. Mike is a registered Professional Engineer in the states of Alaska and Wisconsin.

Units Advanced Housing Research Center (AHRC) Durability and Wood Protection Research (RWU 4723) Economics and Statistics Research (RWU 4851) Engineering Properties of Wood, Wood Based Materials and Structures (RWU 4714)

Administration

Lon Yeary, Assistant Director	Judy V. Wegner, Administrative Assistant

Lon Yeary joined the Forest Products Laboratory in May 2009 after 30 years in the United States Marine Corps. While in the Marine Corps Lon commanded a tactical Marine Corps Helicopter Squadron and a national unit responsible for enforcing mental, physical and moral enlistment standards for the Department of Defense. His career provided opportunities to develop skills in areas such as leadership, operations, safety, training, information technology, aviation and human capital management. Lon is a proven leader with ability to build high performance organizations and solve complex issues. Lon is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy (BS Oceanography), the Naval Postgraduate School (MS Computer Science) and the Marine Corps Command and Staff College (MS Military Studies).

Units Analytical Chemistry and Microscopy Laboratory (ACML) Engineering Mechanics and Remote Sensing Laboratory (EMRSL) Financial Resources Management (FRM) National Forest Library (FPL section) Office of Communications (OC) Paper Test Laboratory (PTL) Research Facilities Engineering (RFE)