Brief Biography

Education:

1975.                B.S., Natural Resources (Watershed Management emphasis). Humboldt
State University.

1976-1977.      M.S. Program (no degree). Watershed Management. Humboldt State University.

Work Experience Overview:

From 1975 through 2011, Gary worked for the USDA Forest Service in fire suppression, prevention, and fuels management positions. From 2001 through 2011, he worked in the Tahoe National Forest as their Forest Fuels Management Officer and was tasked a significant amount of time as the Forest Duty Officer. He was responsible for managing (this included the budget) the overall Forest fuels treatment and prescribed burning program. As a Forest Duty Officer, he oversaw the day to day management and coordination of the Forest's fire management program and any incidents that may occur within the Forest. He retired in 2011 as a Prescribed Fire Manager 1 and Burn Boss 1 (highest qualifications in the Federal ICS system for prescribed burning). For approximately 25 years, he was an active member of the California Fuels Management Committee. He has worked as the fuels and fire specialist on several NEPA documents including decision notices and environmental impact statements, and he was occasionally tasked with being a NEPA team leader. He was a member of the team that developed the Nevada County Fire Plan and was one of the founding members of the Yuba Watershed Protection and Fire Safe Council.

Current Assignment (apart from the YCRCD):

He is a member of the Yuba Watershed Protection and Fire Safe Council serving on their fuels treatment and planning subcommittees. He also actively participates in the education subcommittee. He is involved in volunteer work for the Nevada County Fire Safe Council and the Nevada County Biomass Working Group. Finally, he has been the final inspector on work conducted for defensible space grants managed by the Camptonville Community Partnership.