COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M Forest Service Forest Resource Development Chief Operating Officer Burl Carraway is the recipient of a Texas A&M University System Regents Fellow Service Award for 2020 – 2021.
Carraway received this award for his tremendous contributions to the State and People of Texas through conservation and protection of forests and natural resources, as well as the strides taken in forestry education across the state.
“Burl Carraway is a visionary leader that empowers employees to innovate, take risks and continually look for ways to enhance the agency’s service,” said Al Davis, Interim Director of Texas A&M Forest Service. “He is fully committed to the agency’s mission and has made a lasting impact over his successful career.”
Through his 28-year career with Texas A&M Forest Service, Carraway has served in multiple roles, giving him a broad perspective of the agency and forestry industry. Starting in 1993 as a Staff Forester, Carraway quickly moved to Best Management Practices Project Leader. While project leader, Carraway developed the foundation of the Texas Forestry Best Management Practices program, protecting soil and water resources of Texas forestlands.
In 2001, Carraway became the FIA Program Leader, developing the agency’s first-ever, statewide forest resource inventory through the USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program. This robust and powerful dataset provides information on the status, condition and trends of the state’s forest resources, and is often used to support economic development, forest conservation and wildfire risk preparedness.
In 2005, Carraway was moved to Assistant Department Head where he continued to embrace the importance of educational program delivery in order to positively affect natural resource stewardship.
“Burl is an outstanding and effective leader,” said Davis. “Because of his dedication to the agency and it’s programs and volunteering his time to numerous industry organizations and associations, he has effectively driven the forestry industry forward.”
Over the last 25 years, Carraway has been active in his service to the forestry industry, serving on the Texas Forestry Association Board of Directors, as the Chair of the Texas Society of American Foresters, several roles for the Southern Group of State Foresters, the selection committee for the FIA National Program Manager and is currently on the National Management Team for the Forest Inventory and Analysis Program.
Today, Carraway helps lead the Forest Resource Development division as Chief Operating Officer, guiding educational and programmatic initiatives as well as research.
Some of his notable accomplishments include the development of a Leadership Institute to help build the capacity of agency partners through leadership training, strengthening their organizations to help further the overall reach and mission of Texas A&M Forest Service. Carraway is also the driving force behind the development of the Texas Forest Information Portal, the Timber Supply Analysis application for the entire U.S. South, and several online landowner tools to serve the forest landowners of Texas.
“Texas A&M Forest Service has long provided forestry information to the public,” said Carraway. “A large goal for our future is transforming the way people consume this information, through the development of new applications and more.”
Looking toward the future, Carraway says he is excited about delivering forestry messaging to Texans, made possible through the people who work for Texas A&M Forest Service, so dedicated to this mission.
“I am proud to be part of the Texas A&M System, which allows us to recruit the brightest and most talented staff,” said Carraway. “It is only with this service-oriented staff that we can be leaders in our industry and continue to serve the state of Texas."
Carraway is one of seven professionals to receive the Regents Fellow Service Award this year.
The Regents Fellow Service Awards program was established in 1998 and the Regents Professor Awards program in 1996 recognizing employees who have made exemplary contributions to their university or agency and to the people of Texas.
Read the full Texas A&M University System press release here: https://www.tamus.edu/texas-am-system-regents-recognize-exemplary-faculty-and-professionals/
###
Texas A&M Forest Service Contacts:
Burl Carraway, 979-458-6630, bcarraway@tfs.tamu.edu
Communications Office, 979-458-6606, newsmedia@tfs.tamu.edu