AUGUSTA — The Maine Forest Service’s chief ranger has retired after more than 30 years on the job.

An agency spokeswoman says Bill Williams submitted a letter of retirement on Wednesday and Commissioner Bill Beardsley accepted it.

His retirement went into effect immediately.

Williams tells the Bangor Daily News that he actually retired a year ago, but was asked to stay on.

He began his career in 1977, working summers as a campsite ranger at Moosehead Lake, working his way up the ranks to unit ranger, district ranger and ultimately chief forest ranger, a position he’s held for the past 10 years.

A successor has yet to be named.