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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 NWCG Role Office Phone Email Start Date
Abbott, Blake Training Specialist 208-986-2864 blake.abbott@bia.gov Jan 2025
Becker, Brandon Audio Visual Production Specialist 208-387-5288 bmbecker@blm.gov Feb 2025
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 208-387-5281 jmdunn@blm.gov Aug 2023
Falcon, Omaira Website Manager 985-364-6827 omairafalcon@blm.gov Oct 2024
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
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 NWCG Coordinator, Publications Manager 208-387-5354 elamb@blm.gov Apr 2023
Lee, Sarah NWCG Deputy Program Manager 208-387-5745 sjlee@blm.gov Nov 2023
Noneman, Rhonda Web Assistant 208-387-5263 rnoneman@blm.gov Sep 2013
Ritz, Joseph Audio Visual Production Specialist 208-387-5324 jjritz@blm.gov Feb 2025
Ryan, Jennifer Instructional Systems Specialist N/A jryan@blm.gov Feb 2025
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
Staab, Daniel Training Specialist 208-387-5168 dstaab@blm.gov Aug 2023
Stebbins, Jeff Audio Visual Production Specialist 208-387-5293 jstebbins@blm.gov Feb 2025
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
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
Wood, Katherine NWCG Program Manager 208-869-9482 kwood@blm.gov Apr 2021
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 entries

 

NWCG Latest Announcements

Updated NWCG Standards for Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, PMS 515

Date: April 23, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Interagency Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Subcommittee

The NWCG Standards for Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, PMS 515 standardizes processes and procedures for the interagency use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), including pilot inspections and approvals. This updated publication provides the aviation community with standards to ensure UAS are used safely, effectively, and efficiently in support of fire management goals and objectives.

References:

NWCG Standards for Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, PMS 515

NWCG National Interagency Aviation Committee

ETC Bulletin 25-001: Retrofitted Hot/Cold Beverage Kits - 2025 Field Season

Date: April 16, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee

Due to spout failures and the associated risk of burn injuries, manufacturers have retrofitted the Hot/Cold Beverage Kits using a heat-shrinking band to secure the black spout at the insertion site. The updated kits feature a fluorescent label on each full kit assembly for easy identification. Catering units are encouraged to confirm the clear heat-shrinking bands are intact around each spout before filling.

ETC Bulletin 24-001 regarding Hot/Cold Beverage Kits has been archived and replaced by ETC Bulletin 25-001 for the 2025 season.

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC-EB-25-001 Retrofitted Hot/Cold Beverage Kits

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212, and Next Generation Position Task Book for Basic Faller Are Now Available

Date: April 14, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Hazard Tree and Tree Felling Subcommittee

The updated NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212, and NWCG Position Task Book for Basic Faller (FAL3), PMS 311-19 are now available.

The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212 includes position standards designed to be used in conjunction with the Next Generation Position Task Book (Next Gen PTB). The Next Gen PTB for Basic Faller (FAL3) includes an evaluation guide with suggested rating elements to consider when assessing trainees.

References:

NWCG Standards For Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212

NWCG Position Task Book for Basic Faller (FAL3), PMS 311-119

NWCG Basic Faller (FAL3)

RMC Memo 25-01: Summary of Updates to Safety Officer Positions

Date: April 9, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
RMC Member Eric Fransted

The Risk Management Committee (RMC) serves as the position steward for all Safety Officer incident positions and continues to improve position standards, training, and naming conventions. The implementation of Complex Incident Management (CIM) required changes to position titles. RMC collaborated with the NWCG Incident Position Standards Committee (IPSC) to propose and implement these updates. 

References:

RMC Memo 25-01: Summary of Updates to Safety Officer Positions 

NWCG Position Catalog