Jake Donnay

About Jake Donnay

Jake Donnay is an employee of the USDA Forest Service where he serves as Director in the Legislative Affairs Unit. In this role, he provides expert analysis and advice on all legislative matters affecting the natural resources managed by the Forest Service. Donnay provides technical advice and consultation through a broad expanse of personal contacts from various program communities within the Office of Management & Budget, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Interior, state agencies, non-federal partners and with professional staff in Congress. Donnay previously served as Deputy Director and Legislative Affairs Specialist in the Forest Service Legislative Affairs Unit. In these roles, he interacted frequently with Congressional staff, non-federal partners and natural resources program staff and line officers at all levels of the agency on issues pertaining to the National Forest System, fire and aviation management, Farm Bill implementation, research and development and others. At the Forest Service, Donnay has also served as the Acting Chief of Staff to the Director of Fire and Aviation Management where he was a key advisor regarding management, strategic planning, operations, organizational effectiveness, agency policies and other matters affecting the program.Donnay has also served as a Legislative Fellow in the United States Senate. In this role, Donnay provided briefings, helped draft legislation, assisted with constituent issues and generally advised on matters related to the management of the National Forest System, wildland fire, cooperation with state forestry agencies and other forest policy issues. Before joining the Forest Service, Donnay served as the Senior Director of Forest Policy at the National Association of State Foresters (NASF). In this role, he worked to advance the interests of state forestry agencies with Congress and U.S. federal agencies on issues related to Interior Appropriations, Farm Bill, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, biomass energy and others. Prior to joining NASF, Donnay served as a research associate with the Pinchot Institute for Conservation where he focused on issues related to the management of the National Forest System and the role of emerging markets for wood-based bioenergy. Jake earned a Master of Science in Natural Resource Policy and Economics in 2005, and a Bachelor of Science in Forest Resources in 2001, both from the University of Minnesota.

Experience

1. Director, Legislative Affairs

   Usda Forest Service

   Jul 2021 — Present · DC, US

   Jake Donnay serves as the advisor to the Chief of the Forest Service, other agency and Administration Officials, and field units on the potential impact of a diverse range of natural resource legislation and congressional oversight activities on agency programs and operations. In this role, Donnay plans, organizes, directs and oversees all legislative areas and development of policy positions in support of the Forest Service mission, projects and programs.

Education

• University of Minnesota

  B.S., Forestry

  1998 — 2001

• University of Minnesota

  M.S., Natural Resources Policy and Economics

  2003 — 2005

Skills

• Climate Change
• Sustainability
• Sustainable Forest Management
• Sustainable Development
• Natural Resources
• Ecology
• Bioenergy
• Fundraising
• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Carbon
• Climate Change Adaptation
• Biodiversity
• Land Management
• Environmental Issues
• Forestry
• Natural Resource Management
• Policy Analysis
• Policy
• Ecosystem Services
• Gis
• Forest Management
• Environmental Awareness
• Environmental Policy
• Arcgis
• Conservation Easements
• Forest Products
• Microsoft Office
• Biomass
• Environmental Science
• Environmental Education