News Release

Chuck Russell selected as the wildland fire operations program lead for NPS

Alaska Regional Fire Management Officer, Chuck Russell has been selected as the wildland fire operations program lead.

News Release Date: October 9, 2024

Contact: Candy Stevenson, 208-387-5239

Chuck Russell began his career with the State of South Dakota wildland fire program in 1991. He started a 23-year career with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in 1995 with the Idaho Falls District. After four years, he moved to Las Vegas with his wife Kami and their oldest daughter Saydria. In 2000, he accepted a fire operations specialist position with the North Zone BLM in Wyoming. He then moved to the Wind River/Bighorn Basin District fire management officer position in 2003. During that time, he learned the value of partnerships and how off-season relationship development created in season success. Those efforts resulted in receiving the Pulaski Award for, “work in developing interagency partnerships geared toward cooperation, coordination, and standardization of fire management in the state of Wyoming.” In 2015, he graduated from the BLM Leadership Academy, which provided an opportunity to detail with the Secretary of Interior's Office in Washington, D.C., building partnerships with nonprofits, including the veteran-based organization, Team Rubicon. He soon moved into an operation specialist position and over the next three years, helped the BLM train over 1,200 firefighters to provide employment and service opportunities for our nation’s veterans.

In 2018, Chuck, Kami, Ellyse, Charlie, Makenna and Treyce moved to the last frontier to serve as the fire management officer for the National Park Service Alaska Region. During that time, he had the opportunity to serve with an amazing staff in the most beautiful landscapes in the world. Chuck also served as a Type 1 Incident Commander on the Alaska Interagency Management Team, an Agency Representative in Australia, and detailed as the branch chief of wildland fire under the NPS Division of Fire and Aviation Management.

Chuck lamented leaving his current position and team but looks forward to the new opportunity. “The hardest thing about taking new positions is leaving behind the friendships that are forged with some of the best people in the world,” Russell stated, “I am excited to bring that same effort and energy to build new relationships and partnerships in my new role as the wildland fire operations program lead!”

NPS Wildland Fire Branch Chief, Jason Fallon added, "we are very excited to have Chuck be part of the national office team. He has demonstrated a drive for program enhancement, collaboration with partners, and the ability to keep a broad perspective to lead positive change.” Chuck will start in his new position on November 3, 2024.