I was raised in the Grand Canyon National Park, which is a beautiful place to grow up—playing amidst the breathtaking views of colossal rock formations and the sprawling Colorado River. The natural world shaped my values, and being raised among families dedicated to the land fostered my unbreakable bond with nature. Both my parents worked in wildland fire, search and rescue, and supported other all-hazard incidents. It was their commitment to duty and public service that inspired me to follow in their footsteps.

I began my federal career as a seasonal park ranger for the National Park Service where I pursued my own passion for fire as a collateral duty. Back then, I never would’ve imagined that, after more than 30 years in the fire service, Chief Moore would entrust me with leading the Washington Office Fire and Aviation Management team.  

As I step into my new role as national fire director, my top priority is to serve you—the people who power our organization. Your work is the foundation of everything we do, and I want to make sure you feel supported and valued. Whether you are in the field, a dispatch center or an office, please know that I am committed to doing everything I can to make sure that you have the tools, resources and support you need. That means securing permanent pay reform, finishing the new firefighter job series, addressing housing needs, and enhancing employee mental health and well-being programs. The hard work we’re doing to support prescribed fire and suppression technologies, implement the “Wildfire Crisis Strategy” and reduce wildfire risk is important, but we can’t accomplish any of this work without the people who make it happen. You are my priority.  

Safety will always remain at the forefront. Whether you’re fighting fires, responding to natural disasters or working on other projects, your mental and physical well-being are critical. The devastation caused by Hurricane Helene has shown us how important it is to look out for one another, both during and after incidents. Many of our colleagues are still displaced, without power and recovering from the storm. We must continue to take care of them, just as they have taken care of others.  

I’m still digging into the details of the many complex issues Fire and Aviation Management faces every day. So, I’m thankful to Alex Robertson, who has agreed to stay with us for a few more weeks as I start this new chapter. Alex has done a tremendous job as the acting Washington Office FAM director. His leadership brought much-needed stability to the FAM organization. Alex, it has been a joy and an honor to work with you. I look forward to continuing to work with you, and all the other regional fire directors, as national director.

Finally, I thank all of you, our employees, for the incredible work you do — not just in fire and aviation, but across the agency. I look forward to continuing the relationships we’ve already built, and meeting and learning from others. I’m proud to stand beside such a dedicated team. I know we’ll continue to accomplish our goals together.   

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