Grand Canyon National Park Welcomes New Branch Chief of Fire and Aviation

Lucas Minton, Grand Canyon National Park's new branch chief of fire and aviation

Grand Canyon National Park welcomes Lucas Minton as the park’s new branch chief of fire and aviation. In his new position, Minton will provide leadership and direction to the fire and aviation program covering the 1.2-million-acre national park in northwestern Arizona.

“We are excited to bring Luke into this position,” said Regional Fire Management Officer Jay Lusher. “He has 24 years of diverse leadership and fire experience to the job that will be great fit for managing the Grand Canyon’s complex fire and aviation programs.”

Minton launched his career by serving four years in the United States Marine Corps. He left the Marine Corps and immediately took up another form of public service as a federal firefighter. Over the years Minton has held several jobs in fire, working all across the western United States in California, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, and Nevada. He has worked in various capacities ranging from hotshot, smokejumper, engines crew member, fire hand crew, and helitack. Minton is coming to the Grand Canyon from his most recent position as the fire management officer with the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Eastern Regional Office located in Nashville, Tennessee.

“I previously worked at Grand Canyon as an engine captain from 2001-2006,” said Minton. “I'm excited to be returning to the Grand Canyon after almost 15 years and am looking forward to working with the great staff and community partners to continue building the success of the fire program.”

Minton studied Recreation Management at Northern Arizona and Fire Ecology at the University of Idaho. He succeeds Jay Lusher who recently accepted a position as fire management officer for the National Park Service Regional Office supporting DOI Regions 6, 7, & 8.