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Incident Workforce Development Group

IWDG decorative banner: photos depicting IWDG position.

The Incident Workforce Development Group is jointly chartered by the National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group (NMAC), the NWCG Executive Board, and the Fire Management Board (FMB) to provide national leadership to enable long-term development and sustainability of a national interagency incident workforce.

Implementation of Complex Incident Management

IWDG StoryMap

Video: 2023 Implementation of Complex Incident Management (CIM)
Video: 2022 Implementation of Complex Incident Management (CIM)

Complex Incident Management Team (CIMT):  Action Plan for Implementation v3.0

Fall 2022 CIM AAR

Fall 2023 CIM AAR

Correspondence:

Data

IWDG Memorandum, Meeting Information and Membership

USWDS Paragraphs

Date Subject Recipient
February 22, 2024 Memo 24-01: IWDG Response to NMAC L2023-002: Tasking – Increasing Incident Support Capabilities Dave Haston, Chair, National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group
September 29, 2023 Memo 23-02: Complex Incident Management Team (CIMT) Mobilization Roster Negotiations Jeff Arnberger, Chair, National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group
March 17, 2023 Memo 23-01:  Expectations of Agency Administrators in Implementation of Complex Incident Management (CIM) Chris Wilcox, Chair, Fire Management Board
April 28, 2021 Memo 21-02:  The Agency Role in Implementation of Complex Incident Management Teams Erin Horsburgh, Chair, Fire Management Board
Frank Guzman, Chair, NWCG Executive Board
Josh Simmons, Chair, National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group
April 26, 2021

Memo 21-01: Submission of Complex Incident Management Team (CIMT): Action Plan for Implementation

 Erin Horsburgh, Chair, Fire Management Board
Frank Guzman, Chair, NWCG Executive Board
Josh Simmons, Chair, National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group
February 20, 2020

Memo 20-02:  Incident Management Teams to Support Complex Incident Management

 Tom Remus, Chair, Coordinating Group Advisory Council
February 20, 2020

Memo 20-01:  Incident Management Teams to Support Complex Incident Management

 Noel Livingston, Chair, National Incident Commander/Area Commander Council
January 9, 2020

Memo: Interagency Standard for Recognition of Prior Learning:
Recommendation to establish a standardized Recognition of Prior Learning process for the NWCG

 Grant Beebe, Chair, Fire Management Board
Garth Fisher, Chair, NWCG Executive Board
Dan Smith, Chair, National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group
November 27, 2018

Wildland Fire Training Awareness Letter

 Grant Beebe, Chair, Fire Management Board
Garth Fisher, Chair, NWCG Executive Board
Dan Smith, Chair, National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group

Member Role Organization Email
Aaron Thompson Vice Chair/Primary Member

BLM

 althompson@blm.gov
Carl Schwope Advisor

SWCG

 carl_schwope@fws.gov
Carol McElroy Advisor

FEMA

 carol.mcelroy@fema.dhs.gov
Chuck Russell Liaison

NMAC

 charles_russell@nps.gov
Cole Belongie Liaison

DMC

 cole.belongie@usda.gov
Colleen Gadd Advisor

AHIMTA

 cgadd@ahimta.org
David Celino Primary Member

IPSC

 david.celino@mass.gov
Hank Rowland Advisor

FEMA

 harmon.rowlandiii@fema.dhs.gov
Jesse Bender Chair

IWDG

 jbender@blm.gov
Jim Prevette Primary Member

NASF

 jprevette@southernforests.org
Joe Sean Kennedy Primary Member

USFS

 joseph.kennedy1@usda.gov
Jon Black Primary Member

IAFC

 jon.black@sccfd.org
Melissa Wegner Primary Member

GATR

 melissa.wegner@usda.gov
Patrick Pearson Advisor

RMCG

 patrick_pearson@nps.gov
Rich Harvey Primary Member

IAFC

 rharvey@CentralFireNV.org
Russ Lane Primary Member

NASF

 russ.lane@dnr.wa.gov
Sean Peterson Primary Member

NICC

 speterson@blm.gov
Shane Greer Primary Member

ICSC

 shane.greer@usda.gov
Steve Griffin Primary Member

NIMSIC

 steven.griffin@usda.gov
Zeph Cunningham Primary Member

ICAC

 zephaniah.cunningham@usda.gov

IWDG Agency Administrator (AA) Subgroup

IWDG AA Subgroup Charter (2022)

Member Role Organization Email
Chad Stewart Chair

USFS

 chad.stewart@usda.gov
Clay Jordan Primary Member

NPS

 clayton_jordan@nps.gov
Laurel Kullerud Primary Member

FWS

 laurel_kullerud@fws.gov
Lynn Polacca Primary Member

BIA

 lynn.polacca@bia.gov
Molly Ryan Primary Member

USFS

 molly.ryan@usda.gov
Sam Leneave Primary Member

NASF

 sam.leneave@fdacs.gov
Sam Parsons Primary Member

NASF

 Samuel.Parsons@state.co.us
Tanya Thrift Primary Member

BLM

 tthrift@blm.gov

Foundational Documents

Documents Available Upon Request Via Email

  • IMOSP Stakeholder Feedback Data Summary (2011)
  • EIM: An Analysis of Organizational Models for the Future (2011)
  • Completion of NWCG EIM Implementation Project (NWCG Memo 15-007)
  • Response to concerns regarding the NWCG EIM Project (NWCG Memo 14-014)
    • Response to NWCG TM 14-08 FMB direction for EIM via EIM Project Report
    • EIM Alternative Comparison Matrix
    • ICAP Agency Employee Snapshot Data Charts
    • ICAP National Data Charts
    • IMT Use By Agency Data Charts
    • FEC Memo to FMB Re: EIM
      • Note: NWCG Memo 14-015 & 14-016 are a carbon copy of the above information.
    • EIM Progress Report (NWCG Memo 13-009)
    • IMOSP Project - NWCG EB Decision (NWCG Memo 12-002)
      • EIMSIP Tasking Memo (NWCG Tasking Memo 12-001)
    • IMOSP Project Update and Release of IMOSP Stakeholder Feedback Data Summary (NWCG Memo 11-022)

    Acronyms

    • EB = NWCG Executive Board
    • EIM = Evolving Incident Management
    • FEC = Fire Executive Council
    • FMB = Fire Management Board
    • IMOSP = Incident Management Organization Succession Planning
    • OG = Oversight Group
    • ICAP = Incident Command Application Program

NWCG Latest Announcements

Updated, NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430

Date: March 11, 2025
Contact: Fire Use Subcommittee
Wildland Fire Module Unit

The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430 standardizes procedures and expectations for Wildland Fire Modules (WFMs). These standards are to be used by staff, supervisors, specialists, and technicians for planning, administering, and conducting WFM operations. These standards will also be used as a measure of WFM qualifications, capabilities, and expected performance, for both Type 1 and Type 2 WFMs.

References:

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430

NEW! NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514

Date: March 7, 2025
Contact: National Interagency Aviation Committee

The NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514 establishes the standards for dispatching, utilizing, and coordinating airtankers on interagency wildland fires. These standards should be used in conjunction with the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision (SAS), PMS 505, NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations (SABO), PMS 508, and any applicable agency plans.

References:

NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514

Incident Position Standards and Next Gen Position Task Books Now Available for Dispatch Incident Positions

Date: March 5, 2025
Contact: National Coordination System Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for all six Dispatch positions:

  • Aircraft Dispatcher
  • Expanded Dispatch Coordinator
  • Expanded Dispatch Recorder
  • Expanded Dispatch Supervisory Dispatcher
  • Expanded Dispatch Support Dispatcher
  • Initial Attack Dispatcher

The Performance Support Packages for these positions, including the Expanded Dispatch Job Aid, J-601 and the Initial Attack and Aircraft Dispatcher Job Aid, J-602, were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.

References:

NWCG Aircraft Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Coordinator Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Recorder Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Supervisory Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Support Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Initial Attack Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Job Aids 

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for DMOB, DOCL, and RESL

Date: February 28, 2025
Contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for Demobilization Unit Leader (DMOB), Documentation Unit Leader (DOCL), and Resources Unit Leader (RESL).

The Performance Support Packages for these positions, including a job aid for RESL, were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.

References:

NWCG Demobilization Unit Leader Position Page 

NWCG Documentation Unit Leader Position Page 

NWCG Resources Unit Leader Position Page