UAM NEWS
From Redwoods to the Rainforest: Forestry Veteran Daniel DeArmond Joins UAM as Assistant Professor of Wood Procurement and Marketing
The University of Arkansas at Monticello is welcoming Dr. Daniel DeArmond as the new assistant professor of wood procurement and marketing in the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Dr. DeArmond, a forestry veteran with roots as deep as the redwoods he once logged, has more than 20 years of experience in both industrial forestry and international forest research. Dr. DeArmond brings a global perspective and hands-on expertise to the classroom.
A native of Humboldt County, California, Dr. DeArmond holds a Bachelor of Science in forestry from Humboldt State University and both a master’s and doctorate in tropical forest science from the National Institute of Amazonian Research in Brazil.
Dr. DeArmond’s journey into forestry began in an unexpected place behind a sound and lightboard. In 1990, he moved to northern California to study theater but found himself drawn to the forests that surrounded him. He soon took a job at a sawmill with the Pacific Lumber Company and, in 1994, was called out to his first logging site in the region’s iconic old-growth redwood forests.
“The logs were so big I had to have two chokers to place around 8- to 10-foot diameter trees,” recalled Dr. DeArmond. “That first experience in the redwoods, along with the movie ‘Sometimes a Great Notion,’ sparked something in me. I realized forestry wasn’t just a job; it was a calling.”
Chokers, or choke setters, are used to move logs.
That calling led him to transfer to Humboldt State to formally study forestry. After graduation, he began work with the USDA Forest Service in southeast Alaska.
From 2002 to 2015, Dr. DeArmond built a diverse resume in forestry along the West Coast, including managing prescribed fires in Redwood National Park to timber harvest planning with helicopter operations. Expanding his knowledge to the Amazon basin, he then spent 10 years researching tropical forest logging operations and teaching forest management classes in Brazil.
Having experience with both temperate and tropical forest systems, Dr. DeArmond offers UAM students a rare global perspective on wood production and forest operations.
“Our students and the forestry community of Arkansas will benefit tremendously from Dr. DeArmond’s experiences in management of forests around the U.S. and Brazil,” said Michael Blazier, dean of the UAM College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources. “His passion for forestry has impressed all of us in the college in a short amount of time, and his teaching, research and outreach in wood procurement fills a vital industry need.”
Dr. DeArmond said he’s excited to share his knowledge and help students explore the many career paths available in forestry. He also looks forward to collaborating with local foresters and industry leaders to ensure students gain practical, real-world experiences that prepare them for a smooth transition into the workforce.