Jessica Sherwood has been selected as the new AK NPS Eastern Area Wildland Fire Management Program helicopter manager based in Fairbanks. Jessica brings to the program a keen understanding of National Park Service (NPS) aviation policy and Alaskan aviation and wildland fire management. “Her years of experience with helicopters and a contagious drive to work hard will be an asset to the entire AK NPS Wildland Fire Management Program” said James Sullivan, AK NPS Eastern Area Fire Management Officer.   

As the helicopter manager for Eastern Area Fire Management, Jessica is responsible for safe helicopter operations in Wrangell-St. Elias NP, Yukon-Charley Rivers NP, and Gates of the Arctic NP. Combined acres in these very remote parks (Wrangell-St. Elias is the only park with roads) equal 24 million acres. A typical day of flying in Wrangell-St. Elias NP means potentially covering country that the largest NPS units from each region in the contiguous United States can fit into! Helicopters and helicopter managers are vital to Alaska’s fire management programs. Jessica looks forward to working with helicopter users and making the productive and progressive program even better. 

For most of 2012 Jessica served as the acting helicopter manager. Prior to that, she was the assistant helicopter manager for Eastern Area Fire Management. Before coming to Alaska, she worked as a lead helitack at Grand Canyon NP and Grand Teton NP. She has also worked in the Gila National Forest on a helicopter crew, the Lincoln National Forest as a wilderness ranger and on a wildfire engine, and the Uinta National Forest as a visitor use assistant.

Do you want to use a helicopter in Alaska’s Eastern Area Fire Management Program parks or have a policy related question? Don’t hesitate to contact Jessica Sherwood at jessica_sherwood@nps.gov or 907.455.0658.

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Contact Information
Name: Morgan Warthin
Phone Number: 907.644.3418
Email: morgan_warthin@nps.gov