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September 21

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Title: NWCG logo - Description: NWCG logo of three chain links superimposed over a red flame.NWCG Executive Board

Meeting Minutes – 21 September 2016

 

Participants

Participants name followed by agency

 

 

NWCG
Participants

 

Executive Board: Bob Roberts, vice-Chair (BIA), Dan Smith (NASF), Jeff Arnberger for John Glenn, Chair (BLM), Shane McDonald (FWS), Mark Koontz (NPS), Will May (IAFC), Aitor Bidaburu (USFA), Jill McCurdy for Frank Guzman (USFS); Rod Bloms (DOI OWF Liaison) Tim Sexton (RD&A).  Not Present: Jim Erickson (ITC).

 

NWCG Staff: Krysta Shultz (Executive Secretary), Sean Cross (NWCG Program Manager), Tim Blake (Operations Branch Coordinator), Paul Schlobohm (NWCG FMB Liaison), Deb Fleming (Training Development Program Manager), Elaine Waterbury (Planning Branch Coordinator).

 

 

Other
Participants

Russ Babiak (Operations Training Committee, FWS Representative)

 

Meeting handouts are available upon request via email at blm_fa_nwcg_executive_secretary@blm.gov

 

Item

Topic

Presenter

Action Taken

1

Welcome, Agenda Review, Active Tasking Review

Paul Schlobohm

N/A

2

Wildland Fire Management Training for Agency Administrators and Fire Management Officers Tasking Update

Tim Blake

Draft design criteria and a course recommendation will be presented at the November Operations Training Committee meeting.

3

IMT Succession – Review of outstanding tasking items

Paul Schlobohm

Approved.  Proposed actions will be sent forward to the IMT Succession Oversight Group for their October meeting.  Future information presented to the NWCG Executive Board will include all IMT succession activities and action to provide overall context.

4

Approval to release the October 2016 Wildland Fire Qualification System Guide (PMS 310-1)

Tim Blake

Approved.

5

Leadership Curriculum Update

  1. GATR Request – Resolution on S-420/L-481 Equivalency
  2. Proposed Executive Board Tasking: NWCG Leadership Curriculum Assessment

Sean Cross

a/b)  Consult pertinent stakeholders and leaders from the Operations and Training Committee, Leadership Subcommittee, and Training Development Program to develop a draft briefing paper from Executive Board to OTC to conduct comprehensive assessment of leadership curriculum.  Sean Cross has the lead.  Due: October 19.  Executive Board to determine course of action based on the briefing paper.

6

NWCG Staffing Update

  1. PMC Update – Status of HR Actions
  2. New Branch Coordinator Roles

Deb Fleming

Sean Cross

  1. The BLM PMC approved the changes made to the structure of the NWCG Table of Organization.
  2. New Branch Coordinator Roles:
    • DMC, FENC (Paul)
    • ETC, IBC, NCSC, NIAC, RMC (Tim)
    • CEPC, FMC, IFPC, NIMS, OTC, SMOC, WUI (Deb)

7

Lightning Round

All

N/A

 

Date
Participants

<p>
<strong>Executive Board: </strong>Bob Roberts, vice-Chair (BIA), Dan Smith (NASF), Jeff Arnberger for John Glenn, Chair (BLM), Shane McDonald (FWS), Mark Koontz (NPS), Will May (IAFC), Aitor Bidaburu (USFA), Jill McCurdy for Frank Guzman (USFS); Rod Bloms (DOI OWF Liaison) Tim Sexton (RD&amp;A).&nbsp; Not Present: Jim Erickson (ITC).</p>

<p>
<strong>NWCG Staff: </strong>Krysta Shultz (Executive Secretary), Sean Cross (NWCG Program Manager), Tim Blake (Operations Branch Coordinator), Paul Schlobohm (NWCG FMB Liaison), Deb Fleming (Training Development Program Manager), Elaine Waterbury (Planning Branch Coordinator).</p>

Other Participants

<p>
Russ Babiak (Operations Training Committee, FWS Representative)</p>

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NWCG Latest Announcements

2025 Paul Gleason Award Winners Announced

Date:  August 13, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Leadership Development Subcommittee

The NWCG Qualifications Management Committee (QMC) and Leadership Development Subcommittee (LDSC) are proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Paul Gleason "Lead By Example" awards. Award categories include Initiative and Innovation, Mentoring and Teamwork, and Motivation and Vision.

Congratulations to the awardees:

  • Hunter Bell, U.S. Forest Service — Initiative and Innovation
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Leadership Development Subcommittee

LMC Equipment Bulletin 26-001: Aquatic Invasive Species – Seasonal Reminder for Mussels

Date:  July 30, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Equipment and Technology Subcommittee

The Logistics and Equipment Management Committee (LMC) issued Equipment Bulletin 26-001: Aquatic Invasive Species - Seasonal Reminder for Mussels, reminding the wildland fire community that aquatic mussels continue to be a problem. Mussels rapidly colonize hard and soft surfaces, including aquatic plants and fire equipment, clogging pipes, fouling motors, disrupting water systems, and impacting native species.

To help prevent their spread, fire personnel must follow the decontamination procedures outlined in the NWCG Guide to Preventing Aquatic Invasive Species Transport by Wildland Fire Operations, PMS 444. Additionally, report any sightings immediately to your Lead Resource Advisor and include clear, close-up photos (with a pen or your hand for size reference) and location details.”

Read the complete LMC Equipment Bulletin 26-001, to learn more. 

References:

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NWCG Guide to Preventing Aquatic Invasive Species Transport by Wildland Fire Operations, PMS 444

Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Task Book Update

Date:  July 24, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Tree Felling Subcommittee

NWCG Operations Management Committee (OMC) has issued an update to the NWCG Position Task Book for Intermediate Faller (FAL2), PMS 311-91. To ensure clarity for both trainees and evaluators, the updated FAL2 Position Task Book (PTB) explicitly states who is authorized to sign off on your tasks:

“Evaluators must be qualified as a FAL2, or an Advanced Faller (FAL1).”

If you are currently working out of a previously published version of the FAL2 PTB, you do not need to restart. However, OMC highly encourages you to take the following step to prevent any confusion in the field:

  • Print and replace the updated evaluator information page (page 2) in your current physical PTB.

References:

Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Page

RMC Memo 26-01: Transition Plan for Implementing Updates to Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Qualifications

NWCG Position Task Book for Intermediate Faller (FAL2), PMS 311-91

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Date:  July 10, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Equipment and Technology Subcommittee

The Logistics/Equipment Management Committee (LMC) has released Equipment Advisory 26-001: Potential Front Driveline Joint Failure on 2018 and Earlier Ram Pickups. This advisory highlights multiple U.S. Forest Service regions reporting front driveline joint failure incidents.

This advisory recommends firefighters and fire managers to: 

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For further details, please refer to the complete advisory.

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Equipment Advisory 26-001: Potential Front Driveline Joint Failure on 2018 and Earlier Ram Pickups

Technical Service Bulletin: 03-002-21