Qualifications and Experience

 Robert Plantrich recently retired after 25 years of service as a Wildland Firefighter and Professional Forester with the Department of Interior. Served in the Professional Forester GS-460 series and specialized in Resource Planning, Wildland Fire Suppression, Prescribed Fire Planning and Implementation, Fire Research and Forest Restoration.

Education:

- Masters Degree: Forest Ecology, Michigan State University, 1976

Experience:

- Professional Forester, National Park Service, Santa Monica Mountains NRA (Malibu) 1980-1990. Resource and Fire   Management Planning, Prescribed Fire Specialist and Wildlife Research.

- Fire Management Officer, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Turnbull NWR, Cheney, Washington.. 1990- 2000.

- Assistant Regional Fire Management Officer, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Western Regional Office. 2000 - 2003.

 Robert - Ponil Complex, New Mexico 2002 ( Yes, I did build that fireline with just my shovel.)

 Wildland Fire Qualifications: (Red Card Quals at Retirement)  

Division Supervisor, Strike Team Leader (Crews and Engines), Dozer Boss, Falling Boss, Situation Unit Leader, GIS Technical Specialist, Field Observer, Prescribed Burn Boss Type I, Ignition Specialist and Holding Specialist.

Accomplishments:

- Conceived of and led the implementation team of scientists and GIS specialists that developed the GeoMAC project during the 2000 wildfire season. The GeoMAC image above has a link that will take you to the GeoMAC website which is one of the most innovative applications of fire intelligence data on the internet and is linked from the NIFC website and most regional fire coordination centers. The applictation integrates high resoluton GIS data with real time satellite imagey of current fire perimeters and is updated hourly.

- Developed Chainsaw Training and Certification Program for the Bureau of Indian Affairs 2001.

- Wrote the Tactics and Firefighter Safety sections of the new Wildland Urban Interface Course (S-215).

- Served on the NWCG's National Training Task Group in 2002. (Future Training Strategies)

- Served on the NWCG's Geospatial Task Group 1998 - 2002 (GIS technologies for wildland fire management).

- Started my own consulting firm and designed this web site! Need a web site? We do that too!

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