Greene County resident among 17 Forest Ranger grads

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) welcomed 17 new graduates from the 25th Basic School for New York State Forest Rangers on September 29.

Serving as the highly visible, uniformed face of DEC’s Division of Forest Protection, New York State Forest Rangers protect natural resources and public safety. These stewards of our public lands are an elite, specialized police force who stand ready to respond to in-state emergencies involving search and rescue, wildfires, and flooding. While they are experts in on-the-ground emergency response, Forest Rangers are also highly trained to manage emergencies using the latest emergency management models and techniques. They frequently assist other states delivering wildfire suppression and assist with incident management when needed.

The ceremony in Lake Placid celebrated graduates from across New York State, including  Forest Ranger Kaylynn Massa of Greene County. The Freehold resident was among the graduates who completed extensive law enforcement, search and rescue, incident management, and natural resources training both in the classroom and in the field.

“I am thrilled to bring on 17 brave new Forest Rangers into the DEC family,” DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “Over the past six months, these Forest Rangers and their families made tremendous sacrifices to make this day possible. Their skills and dedication will carry them as they pursue this noble career protecting our resources and positively changing the trajectory of other people’s lives. I wish them success as they begin this next chapter with DEC.”   

DEC Deputy Commissioner for Public Protection Melinda Seiden added, “Forest Rangers patrol more than five million acres of land and do it all hours of the day and night to keep people safe. I am excited to add these 17 Rangers to our ranks.”

Over the past six months, the Ranger recruits endured strenuous training at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry campus at Ranger School in  Wanakena, as well as at the Huntington Wildlife Forest in the town of Newcomb.  Division of Forest Protection academy staff trained the Ranger recruits in a wide range of rescue techniques, including rope and swift water rescue, and led extensive training in wildfire suppression, prescribed burns, and protection of our lands and natural resources, among a myriad other skills. The 17 graduates will join the growing State Forest Ranger force for an unprecedented total of 161 Rangers statewide.

The level of intensity of this training and the on-the-job training that’s sure to follow cannot be overstated. NYS Forest Rangers are among the best trained in the nation. Their search and rescue expertise allows them to safely locate and extricate the lost and injured, no matter how extreme the conditions. That includes in heavy snow, cold, ice, and other extreme conditions in difficult and remote locations at any hour of the day or night.      

Upon graduation, DEC assigns recruits to patrol areas to join the ranks of Forest Rangers currently serving across the state. 

In 2025, DEC Forest Rangers conducted 362 search and rescue missions, extinguished 202 wildfires covering nearly 840 acres, participated in 68 prescribed fires that served to rejuvenate 1,649 acres of land, and worked on cases that resulted in more than 1,100 tickets or arrests.  

Congratulations to Forest Ranger Kaylynn Massa, and all the graduates of DEC’s 25th Basic School for Forest Rangers:  

Joshua Betts – Highland, Ulster County

Jack Caulfield – Massapequa, Nassau County

Ian Dill – Morris, Otsego County

Ethan Engel – Peru, Clinton County

Tucker Griffin – Niskayuna, Schenectady County

Griffen Johnson – Rome, Oneida County

Isaac Knapp – Stanfordville, Dutchess County

Ian Lupole – Kirkwood, Broome County

Alison MacCue – Croghan, Lewis County

Kaylynn Massa – Freehold, Greene County

Brian McMahon – Spencerport, Monroe County

Jacob Owen – Allegany, Cattaraugus County

Jeremy Patnode – Chateaugay, Franklin County

Mitchell Rigano – North Chili, Monroe County

Nathan Ryan – East Greenbush, Rensselaer County

Timothy Sarno – Kinderhook, Columbia County

Samantha Severing – Livingston Manor, Sullivan County