Commissioner Lach Litwer

Lach Litwer’s lifelong connection to Oregon’s natural landscapes began during his youth, kayaking the state’s rivers and lakes. One formative paddling adventure on the Columbia River near Hood River instilled in him a deep appreciation for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area—a passion that continues to shape his professional and civic work.

Today, Lach resides in Hood River with his wife, Alexia, and their two children. In 2020, Lach founded Columbia Gorge Capital (CGC), an organization dedicated to fostering economic development and growth in rural Oregon. CGC focuses on workforce housing and economic development projects in rural communities such as Cascade Locks, Hood River, Newport, and the central Coast. Among its signature Gorge area initiatives, CGC is leading the restoration of the historic and long-abandoned Hotel Oregon in downtown Hood River into the Lightwell Hotel.

In 2023, Lach established Woden LLC, a telecommunications engineering company based in Odell. Woden supports rural broadband infrastructure deployment across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.

Earlier in his career, Lach served as a Presidential Appointee at the Pentagon, where he worked on public-private infrastructure partnerships and served on the Department of Defense Comprehensive Review Working Group for the repeal of the law known as Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

Lach currently serves in the U.S. Army Reserves, serving as a Civil Affairs officer where he holds the rank Lieutenant Colonel. His military career has included multiple commands as well as combat service in Afghanistan.

Outside of his professional responsibilities, Lach is deeply involved in community service. He recently concluded two terms as President of the Hood River Elks Lodge and is a National Security Policy Fellow with the Truman National Security Project. Lach is also an AmeriCorps NCCC alumnus.

Lach brings to his work a commitment to balancing responsible development, environmental preservation, and sustainable growth, making him a dedicated advocate for the future of the Columbia River Gorge and rural Oregon communities.