April 15, 2016 — COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Some of the nation’s brightest and most accomplished leaders in wildland firefighting met this week at Texas A&M Forest Service headquarters to discuss the future of leadership development in the field.

Attendees were all members of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group’s Leadership Subcommittee, representing all facets of wildland fire from fire departments to state and federal agencies.

The Leadership Subcommittee promotes and enables the development of leaders in the wildland fire service, by providing educational and leadership development opportunities and supporting leadership innovation and best practices.

“We want the folks of this committee to go back and communicate to their agency what’s going on across the nation and for the doers on the committee to continue to come up with new ideas and plan events that will help forge new leaders,” Shane Olpin, USDA Forest Service, committee chair said.

Main items discussed were the NWCG’s curriculum, toolboxes used to support the curriculum, each agency’s ability to create leadership programs and the future of the committee.

One way to ensure the relevance of the committee in the future is by incorporating younger members to help diversify membership and help the committee stay connected to what’s going on in the field.

“A number of us were invited to help bridge that gap between the ‘boots-on-the-ground’ firefighters and those in upper management. It helps to better identify how what’s going on in this committee applies to what’s happening on the ground,” said Ashleigh D’Antonio, Payette National Forest, co-curriculum unit manager for the committee.

D’Antonio added that by bringing in younger members the committee is helping to continue a cultural shift where leadership training is integrated into all levels of firefighting courses.

Another important item discussed is emerging technology and how to best put it to use.

“Technology is changing the way things are done, we know there’s a value in it and how people are learning and staying connected, so we’re trying to embrace it and find the appropriate use and application for these emerging technologies,” Olpin said

While visiting Aggieland, the group also had the opportunity to visit the Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets for a briefing on the core values instilled in cadets to make them efficient and effective leaders.

“Leadership development is an integral part of the Aggie tradition and we are proud to introduce these leaders to those traditions,” said Mark Stanford, Texas A&M Forest Service fire chief and agency representative.

Members of the committee represent nine organizations, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, City of San Diego, Fire Department of the City of New York, Florida State and Texas A&M Forest Service.

Learn more about NWCG and wildland fire leadership at http://fireleadership.gov.

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Editor’s Note: Attached photo of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group’s Leadership Subcommittee in front of the Sanders Corps of Cadets Center on Texas A&M University.

Texas A&M Forest Service Contacts:

Jessica Jackson; Communications Specialist; 979-458-6619; jjackson@tfs.tamu.edu