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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

Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book Available for Helicopter Crewmember

Date: April 28, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Interagency Helicopter Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Helicopter Crewmember, PMS 350-22, and the NWCG Position Task Book for Helicopter Crewmember (HECM), PMS 311-22, are now available.

These resources, part of the Performance Support Package developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort, support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators.

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 Incident Position Standards for Helicopter Crewmember, PMS 350-22

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Helicopter Crewmember, PMS 350-22

NWCG Position Task Book for Helicopter Crewmember (HECM), PMS 311-22

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)