John M. Pye

Volunteer - RITS and Web

P.O. Box 12254
3041 E. Cornwallis Rd.
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2254

Phone: 919-549-4003
john.pye@usda.gov

Research
Education
and Experience
Organizations
and Awards
Publications
and Products

Current Research

Prior to July 2021, activities were focused on improving the interaction of Forest Service researchers with their customers through web content that is rich, current, and discoverable. The agency's internal tool for managing its research, the Research Information Tracking System (RITS), empowers all areas of the agency's research operations to enter and update the latest information on research direction, expertise, and accomplishments for transfer when appropriate to public-facing web sites. Discovery tools like Treesearch and the R&D-wide SOLR search tool help customers find the solutions they need. Interagency collaborations like Federal Reporter and Science.gov build on industry best practices and demonstrate the connections from strategic objectives to scientific results and use. Intranet solutions that use this content include the "metrics" and USDA Research dashboards. In 2020 and 2021, this work includes a reengineering of R&D's key public facing websites to use a common modern and maintainable infrastructure to deliver an attractive, mobile-friendly customer experience with seamless discovery across R&D's content.

Past Research

Most of my research has been conducted as an ecologist with the USDA Forest Service, working with economists to explore the social and ecologic interactions that shape our forests and the benefits they produce. Early work was on acid rain and air pollution effects on trees and stands, and an evaluation of the costs and benefits of research to control fusiform rust damage in southern pines. Wildfires in Florida in 1998 encouraged investigations into the economics of wildfires both in Florida and beyond. A long standing line of research has been in the regional dynamics and control of southern pine beetle. For another view of my work see John Pye - Faces of the Forest Service.

Why This Research is Important

A key Forest Service mission is to deliver to land managers the science they need to promote the health and resilience of the Nation's forests and grasslands for the benefit the American people. Open access to the results of federally funded research means better decisions, while transparency of objectives, operations, and accomplishments builds trust with taxpayers, collaborators, and future partners.

Education

M.A. in Ecology, 1982: University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
B.A. in Biology, 1976: Swarthmore College

Professional Experience

Program Specialist - eResearch, USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station: 2010—2021

Oversees the eResearch Program including the Research Information Tracking System and R&D-wide web systems.
Ecologist, U.S. Forest Service, Southern Research Station: 1985—2010

Investigated the broad scale interactions of forest health and economics, including wildfire incidence, suppression and fuel management; southern pine beetle dynamics; fusiform rust research and its economic effectiveness; and air pollution's effects from seedlings to stands. Supported communication of research results by designing and implementing websites and soliciting and managing the organization and summarization of research to meet customer needs.
Management consultant, Macro Systems, Inc., Silver Spring, MD: 1977—1979

Supported management analyses, cost-benefit studies, and research management systems for federal civilian clients.
Research technician/programmer, Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia: 1976—1976

Performed stream sampling, data analysis and programming at the Stroud Water Research Laboratory in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Professional Organizations

Ecological Society of America, Member (1981—Current)
Society of American Foresters (SAF), Member (1981—Current)

Awards and Recognition

USDA Certificate of Merit, 2009: For serving on the FS Information Resources Strategic Framework Core Team and helping to set a long-term strategy for the management and use of the Information Resources in the Agency.
Natural Resource Stewardship Award, 2008: Station Director's Award, Southern Research Station
Research Professional Support Award, 2008: Station Director's Award, Southern Research Station
USDA Certificate of Appreciation, 1997: For your work on the Southern Appalachian Assessment, which recently received the Chief's 1997 National Ecosystem Management Award and Vice President Gore's Hammer Award.