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SACRAMENTO — The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is proud to announce that Forest Entomology and Pathology Program Supervisor Tom Smith has been awarded the Francis H. Raymond Award by the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Presented at the Board’s November 5, 2025, meeting, the Francis H. Raymond Award recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the management and conservation of California’s natural resources through professional achievements and volunteer service.
“Tom’s technical expertise, humble leadership, and collaborative approach have advanced our knowledge of forest insects and diseases in a variety of settings across the state and strengthened partnerships to address forest health threats across public, private, and academic sectors,”
said CAL FIRE Deputy Director for Resource Management, Eric Huff. “His dedication to the role of science in identifying and managing forest pest conditions, and his decades of service have made a lasting contribution to the health and resilience of California’s forests.”
“The Board is very pleased to honor Tom Smith for his lifelong dedication to forest health issues. His technical knowledge, work on the ground, and strategic use of funding helped to shape forest land management in California,” said California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection Chair Terrence O’Brien.
Smith joined CAL FIRE in 2002, marking the start of a 23-year career with the department. During his tenure, he earned his Registered Professional Forester license and helped expand CAL FIRE’s Forest Entomology and Pathology Program, growing the statewide pest specialist team and elevating forest health management across California.
Smith played a pivotal role in coordinating interagency efforts to combat invasive pests and diseases affecting California’s forests. He served on 11 forest health-related organizations, including the California Invasive Species Advisory Committee, the California Forest Pest Council, the California Pitch Canker Task Force, the California Oak Mortality Task Force, and the California Firewood Task Force.
He also worked closely with the U.S. Forest Service to co-produce the California Forest Pest Conditions Annual Report, a key publication that documents forest health trends and informs future management decisions.
Smith discovered his passion for forest pathology while earning his master’s degree at Duke University under Professor Bill Stambaugh, whose enthusiasm for forest pests inspired Smith’s interest in the connection between pest ecology and forest health. He went on to spend 15 years as a pest control forester with the North Carolina Division of Forest Resources before moving to California in 1999 to pursue a Ph.D. in plant pathology at UC Davis with Professor Dave Rizzo, further deepening his expertise in forest disease management. Now retired, Smith continues to advance forest conservation as a volunteer with the Global Consortium for the Conservation of Oaks and enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time with his family.
The Francis H. Raymond Award, established in 1987, honors the legacy of Francis H. Raymond, CAL FIRE Director from 1953 to 1970. Raymond was a leading advocate for the Professional Foresters Law of 1973 and a lifelong champion of responsible forest management in California.
Learn more about the Francis H. Raymond Award and see past recipients on the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection website.
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