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DEC Announces Graduation of 17 New York State Forest
Rangers, Including Croghan Resident
Published: September 29, 2026
at 02:15 p.m.
By: Press Release
from NYS DEC
DEC Announces Graduation of 17 New York State Forest
Rangers
Forest Rangers Charged with Protecting New York's
Communities and Natural Resources
Photos from the 25th
Basic School for Forest Rangers Graduation
New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton
today welcomed 17 new graduates from the 25th Basic School for New York
State Forest Rangers. As part of DEC’s Division of Forest Protection, New
York State Forest Rangers protect natural resources and public safety and
stand ready to support out-of-state emergencies, like wildfires and
flooding. The ceremony held in Lake Placid this afternoon celebrated
graduates from across New York State who followed extensive law enforcement
and natural resources training in the classroom and in the field.
“I am thrilled to
bring on 17 brave new Forest Rangers into the DEC family,” Commissioner
Lefton said. “Over the past six months, these Forest Rangers and
their families made tremendous sacrifices to make this day possible. Their
skills and dedication will carry them as they pursue this noble career
protecting our resources and positively changing the trajectory of other
people’s lives. I wish them success as they begin this next chapter with
DEC.”
DEC Deputy
Commissioner for Public Protection Melinda Seiden said, “Forest Rangers
patrol more than five million acres of land and do it all hours of the day
and night to keep people safe. I am excited to add these 17 Rangers to our
ranks.”
For the last six
months, recruits endured strenuous training at the State University of New
York College of Environmental Science and Forestry campus in the hamlet of Wanakena and the Huntington Wildlife Forest in the town
of Newcomb. The Division of Forest Protection trained the Ranger recruits
in a wide range of rescue techniques, including rope rescues, and led
extensive training in wildfire suppression, prescribed burns, water
rescues, and wildlife protection, among other skills. The 17 graduates will
join the State's Forest Ranger force for a total of 161 Rangers statewide.
Upon graduation,
DEC assigns recruits to patrol areas to join the ranks of Forest Rangers
currently serving across the state. In 2025, DEC Forest Rangers
conducted 362 search and rescue missions, extinguished 202 wildfires
covering nearly 840 acres, participated in 68 prescribed fires
that served to rejuvenate 1,649 acres of land, and worked on cases
that resulted in more than 1,100 tickets or arrests.
Below is the list
of graduates from DEC’s 25th Basic School for Forest Rangers:
Joshua Betts – Highland, Ulster
County
Jack Caulfield – Massapequa, Nassau County
Ian Dill – Morris, Otsego County
Ethan Engel – Peru, Clinton County
Tucker Griffin – Niskayuna, Schenectady County
Griffen Johnson – Rome, Oneida County
Isaac Knapp – Stanfordville, Dutchess County
Ian Lupole – Kirkwood, Broome County
Alison MacCue – Croghan, Lewis County
Kaylynn Massa – Freehold, Greene County
Brian McMahon – Spencerport, Monroe County
Jacob Owen – Allegany, Cattaraugus County
Jeremy Patnode – Chateaugay, Franklin County
Mitchell Rigano – North Chili, Monroe County
Nathan Ryan – East Greenbush, Rensselaer County
Timothy Sarno – Kinderhook, Columbia County
Samantha Severing – Livingston Manor, Sullivan County
Visit DEC's
website for more information about New York State Forest Rangers,
including career descriptions.
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