Van completed a 35-year career with the U.S. Forest Service as a forester, a rangeland management specialist, district ranger, forest resource staff officer, and natural resources staff officer at the U.S. Forest Service Headquarters in Washington, D.C. After his retirement, Van formed Great Plains Consulting, LLC helping ranchers and land owners who graze cattle on federal lands with grazing management, fire management, vegetation resources, and coordination with federal agencies. Van works for six major grazing associations, representing nearly 600 ranchers. Van became a partner with PFMc in 2013.
Van has written several publications on ecosystem management, protocols for measuring habitat response to management, monitoring ecosystem health and maintenance, and integrating remote sensing and geospatial technologies into resource management.
Van graduated from the University of Montana with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Forestry and Rangeland Management.
