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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 Co-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
James Osborne Primary Member

ICAC

 josborne@blm.gov
Jesse Bender Vice Chair/Primary Member

NPS

 jlbender@nps.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
Zeph Cunningham Co-Chair/Primary Member

NIMSIC

 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

National Wildland Firefighter Day

Date: July 2, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
National Interagency Fire Center

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) recognizes July 2, 2025, as National Wildland Firefighter Day (NWFFD). Established in 2022, NWFFD honors the dedication of wildland firefighters and support personnel. This day falls within the 2025 Week of Remembrance (June 30 - July 6), providing an opportunity to renew our commitment to wildland firefighter safety while remembering those who have fallen in the line of duty.

NWCG provides leadership to enable interoperable wildland fire operations among federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial partners. NWCG standards and training establish common practices to contribute to safe, effective, and coordinated interagency wildland fire operations nationwide.

References:

Week of Remembrance

National Wildland Firefighter Day

2025 Week of Remembrance

Date: June 27, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
6 Minutes for Safety Subcommittee

As we approach the 2025 Week of Remembrance (WOR), June 30–July 6, we dedicate this time to reflect on the past incidents from 2015 and honor the fallen through learning. Since its inception in 2014, WOR has honored wildland firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice while encouraging critical discussions that reinforce lessons learned.

Throughout the week, we encourage thoughtful and generative conversations—whether in briefing rooms or at tailgates—that promote a culture of continuous learning and safety.

References:

2025 Week of Remembrance: Letter to Leadership

Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-003 Flame-Resistant Shirt Survey

Date: June 12, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee

The U.S. Forest Service National Technology and Development Program (NTDP) is seeking input on the Forest Service-designed flame-resistant (FR) shirt, currently available through the National Interagency Support Cache system and FedMall.

NTDP is conducting a product review to improve future FR shirt designs. As part of this effort, a short survey is now open for federal employees who have worn any of three recent FR shirt models. Feedback will guide design improvements to better meet the needs of wildland firefighters.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act, responses are limited to federal employees. The survey is open through September 12, 2025. 

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-003

NEW! S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended) Now Available

Date: June 10, 2025
If you have questions, please visit our FAQ page. 
If your question is not answered there, you can 
submit your question using our Contact Us form. 
 

The S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended), equips new wildland firefighters with essential skills through a mix of online learning and hands-on training. The course features a required online component and an instructor-led exercise, reinforcing online concepts with practical performance-based training.

The course builds competencies in wildland fire operations, safety, and equipment use, applicable across various operational environments. Both the online component and instructor-led field exercise must be completed to receive a certificate of completion. Students are required to finish the prerequisite S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior, before enrolling in S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended).

References:

S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended)

S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior

Wildland Fire Learning Portal