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NWCG Staff

NWCG Staff header graphic. Decorative.

The NWCG Staff is located at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. The NWCG Staff serves and reports to the Executive Board. The staff provides national leadership and direction to accomplish the NWCG mission.  This is primarily achieved by supporting the operations of the NWCG committees and their subgroups – the backbone of the NWCG effort.  The NWCG committees and subgroups are comprised of national leaders and subject-matter experts representing the NWCG member agencies and the various functional areas of wildland fire management.

Roster

Please use the NWCG Roster Update form to submit roster changes.
Name Sort descending NWCG Role Office Phone Email Start Date
Benoit, Annie Training Program Manager 208-387-5112 abenoit@blm.gov Mar 2019
Brooks, Robin Writer/Editor 208-387-5266 rbbrooks@blm.gov Jul 2022
Coulter, Eric Communications Manager 208-387-5464 ecoulter@blm.gov Oct 2023
Drinkwater, Darci Admin Assistant 208-387-5699 ddrinkwater@blm.gov Nov 2021
Dunn, James (Matt) Training Specialist N/A jmdunn@blm.gov Aug 2023
Frey, Dave Training Specialist 208-387-5149 dfrey@blm.gov Apr 2022
Gaskill, Steven Audio Visual Production Specialist 208-387-5201 sgaskill@blm.gov Sep 2019
Glaeser, Lori Supervisory Instructional Systems Specialist 208-387-5961 lglaeser@blm.gov Jul 2017
Gonzalez, Heather Supervisory Training Specialist 208-387-5314 hgonzalez@blm.gov Jul 2022
Harrison, Brian Training Specialist 208-387-5615 bharrison@blm.gov Jun 2019
Holmes, Brian Training Specialist 208-387-5117 bcholmes@blm.gov Dec 2023
Jackson, Colby Assistant Training Program Manager 208-387-5328 cjackson@blm.gov Oct 2017
Komatz, Kathryn Training Specialist 209-628-0691 kkomatz@blm.gov Mar 2023
Lamb, Erica Publications Manager 208-387-5354 elamb@blm.gov Apr 2023
Lee, Sarah NWCG Deputy Program Manager 208-387-5745 sjlee@blm.gov Nov 2023
Maier, Kevin M Training Specialist 208-387-5275 kmaier@blm.gov Apr 2022
Noneman, Rhonda Web Assistant 208-387-5263 rnoneman@blm.gov Sep 2013
O'Hara, Katy NWCG Coordinator 208-387-5269 kohara@blm.gov Nov 2020
Schindel, Mathew (Joe) Audio Visual Production Specialist 208-387-5569 mschindel@blm.gov Nov 2021
Schultz, Dave NWCG Coordinator 208-387-5739 dschultz@blm.gov Nov 2023
Spence, Brittany Instructional Systems Specialist N/A bspence@blm.gov Mar 2023
Stabb, Daniel Training Specialist N/A dstaab@blm.gov Aug 2023
Suminski, Toni NWCG IPTM Project Manager 480-338-6307 tsuminsk@blm.gov Jun 2023
Thibodee, Kim Admin Assistant 208-387-5506 wthibodee@blm.gov Apr 2024
Thomason, Carmen NWCG Coordinator 208-387-5738 cthomaso@blm.gov May 2023
Vacant Website Manager Apr 2022
Wheeler, James Instructional Systems Specialist 386-324-6141 jbwheeler@blm.gov Feb 2023
Winskie, Jonathan Instructional Systems Specialist 253-732-2779 jwinskie@blm.gov Mar 2023
Wisner, Jody Writer/Editor N/A jwisner@blm.gov Jan 2022
Wood, Katherine NWCG Program Manager 208-869-9482 kwood@blm.gov Apr 2021
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 entries

 

NWCG Latest Announcements

The Experiential Learning Subcommittee is looking for your feedback on Staff Rides

Date: September 20, 2024
Contact: Ashleigh D'Antonio and George Risko, Leadership Committee

The Experiential Learning Subcommittee needs to hear from the field about where the greatest need lies regarding staff rides and their accessibility.

  • Do you have an event you would like to turn into a learning experience?
  • Do you have a staff ride built, but are struggling to implement the delivery?
  • Do you need help building capacity?
  • What other ideas do you have to support experiential leadership training?

Fill out this short survey below to help us help you.

References:

Staff Rides: Feedback

Staff Rides

Updated NWCG Single Resource Casual Hire Information, PMS 934

Date: September 19, 2024
Contact: Incident Business Committee

The Incident Business Committee has updated the NWCG Single Resource Casual Hire Information, PMS 934. This update expands the provisions for hiring emergency personnel.

References:

NWCG Single Resource Casual Hire Information, PMS 934

IBC Memorandum 24-03

NWCG 2024 Spring/Summer Highlights

Date: September 13, 2024

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Forest Service Logo
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Bureau of Indian Affairs Logo
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Bureau of Land Management Logo
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National Park Service Logo
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Fish & Wildlife Service Logo
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State Foresters Logo
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U.S. Fire Administration
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Intertribal Timber Council Logo
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International Association of Fire Chiefs
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Department of Defense Logo

Welcome to our latest highlights from the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, where we explore the latest updates, insights, and efforts that develop interoperable wildland fire operations among federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial partners.

The Performance Support Package, which for ABRO includes the Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book were developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. The Performance Support Package will support trainees, those qualified in the position, and evaluators.
 


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NASA Logo

NASA JOINS NWCG!

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is officially an associate member of NWCG. As such, NASA is beginning to collaborate with wildland fire management agencies with the goal of increasing collaboration across agencies and leveraging NASA data, technology, and innovation for nation-wide efforts in wildland fire management. NASA has a rich history of research, development, and technology transfer in the areas of Earth science, space technologies, and aeronautics that support the NWCG mission.


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NWCG new website look.

WWW.NWCG.GOV HAS A NEW LOOK AND DESIGN

The NWCG web team dedicated the past two years to making a significant upgrade to the www.nwcg.gov site. This upgrade involved a comprehensive redesign of over 7,700 web pages.

The modernization of NWCG’s website involved migrating to Drupal 10, a cutting—edge content management system, and leveraging Amazon Web Service GovCloud for secure and efficient hosting. These upgrades help ensure that the NWCG website remains current in content management practices, offering enhanced customization, improved performance, and an overall superior user experience.


NWCG Leadership Committee

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WFLDP Professional Reading Program logo
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WFLDP PRP book covers

The Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program announced the Professional Reading Program’s 2024 list!

The years books include:

  • Young Men and Fire by Norman Maclean
  • The Wisdom of the Bullfrog by William H. McRaven
  • The Art of Clear Thinking by Hasard Lee
  • Emotional Agility by Susan David
  • Writing to Persuade by Trish Hall

Learn more at the NWCG Leadership Committee


INCIDENT PERFORMANCE AND TRAINING MODERNIZATION

In 2023, NWCG kicked off the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. A training system overhaul focused on developing a performance-based training system designed to shift training to on-the-job when appropriate.

Over the next five years, NWCG intends to analyze all positions within the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1. To date we are currently working on 30 incident positions, and planning for 20+ in calendar year 2025.

Subject Matter Experts from a variety of geographical areas and agencies recently completed the position analysis for 16 positions. From this analysis, Incident Positions Standards and a Next Generation Position Task Book will be developed for each position.

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Incident Performance and Training Modernization

NEXT GENERATION POSITION TASK BOOK

In April 2024, NWCG launched the new Next Generation Position Task Book (Next Gen PTB) which is a key component of the IPTM effort. This revised evaluation tool is designed to work in conjunction with the newly developed Incident Position Standards.

Major Next Gen PTB changes:

  • Structured to improve constructive conversations between evaluators and trainees.
  • Reference new Incident Position Standards.
  • Include only tasks required to be evaluated for successful performance.
  • Trainees will be rated on their performance vs. initialing whether a task was completed.
  • Must include written feedback when trainee does not meet the standard.
  • Will be position specific (no combined PTBs).
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Screen shot of the Next Gen Position Task Book

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Banner image of the Wildland Fire Learning Portal website

NWCG’s training course catalog is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP).

To access the training course catalog, visit WFLP and either set up an account or login as a guest.

 

 

The Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book are now available for Aircraft Base Radio Operator (ABRO)

Date: September 12, 2024
Contact: Interagency Helicopter Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Aircraft Base Radio Operator, PMS 350-87 and NWCG Position Task Book for Aircraft Base Radio Operator (ABRO), PMS 311-87 are now available.

The Performance Support Package, which for ABRO includes the Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book were developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. The Performance Support Package will support trainees, those qualified in the position, and evaluators.

References:

NWCG Aircraft Base Radio Operator Position Page

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Aircraft Base Radio Operator, PMS 350-87

NWCG Position Task Book for Aircraft Base Radio Operator, PMS 311-87