Dr. Blanche serves as National Program Leader in the Natural Resources and Environment Unit of the USDA CSREES. He holds a BS degree in Wood Science and Technology, a Master’s degree in Agriculture (plant physiology/biochemistry), a second Master’s degree in Forest Resources (Ecology/Biometrics) and a PhD in Forestry (tree physiology/crop ecology). He administers the $6M Wood Utilization Research grant, the $22M Cooperative Forestry Research Grant and about $16M in special research grants each year. He manages the Forestry Research Advisory Council that advises the Secretary of Agriculture relative to forestry research that are federally funded. He coordinates the Natural Resources and Environmental Management (NREM) Base Program Support Team in Cooperative Extension and the Forest Fragmentation Curriculum development. Dr. Blanche has 90 publications in a variety of areas including: forest products (wood preservation), urban forestry, agroforestry, hydrocarbon emissions, tree seeds, photosynthesis, and bark beetle/host interactions.