News Release
NPS / C. BOEHLE
News Release Date: February 21, 2019
Contact: Tina Boehle, 208.387.5875
Nicholas “Nic” Strohmeyer has been named as the new helicopter specialist for the National Park Service’s Branch of Aviation. The position had been vacant since Meg Gallagher became branch chief in early 2018.
Nic started his federal career in 1989 as a seasonal firefighter on the White River National Forest in Colorado. While on the forest, he worked on hand crews and as an engine captain. He graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Natural Recourses Management and a minor in Geography. After graduating college, Nic accepted a career seasonal position as the assistant foreman on Rifle Helitack, a combined Bureau of Land Management (BLM)/U.S. Forest Service (USFS) helicopter program. He then worked as a station manager for Lakeview BLM and as a crew lead for Wenatchee Rappellers. After moving to Utah, Nic helped to start the Provo Rappel Crew, and worked as the superintendent of the Wasatch Helitack Crew and was the acting state aviation manager for Utah BLM.
Nic and his family then moved to Alaska where he served as the BLM Southern Unit aviation manager for the Alaska Fire Service, which is where he and his family fell in love with Nordic skiing. During that time, he earned the Aviation Safety and Security Certificate from the University of Southern California studying aircraft accident investigations and human factors in aviation safety. In 2014, Nic moved back to the Great Basin where he worked as the unit aviation manager for Boise District BLM until 2018, at which time, he detailed and then served as the Idaho BLM state aviation manager and earned his Unmanned Aviation System (UAS) Pilot card.
In his role as a helicopter specialist, he will focus on policy and oversight of the National Park Service’s helicopters that are owned and operated by NPS. Additionally, Nic will represent NPS on various committees and working groups to develop policy and guidance to ensure the helicopter program operates in a safe and effective manner now, and in the future.
Branch chief, John Buehler, looks forward to having Nic on the national aviation staff. “Nic’s extensive experience in helicopter operations and management, along with his many years in wildland fire operations, will make Nic the perfect fit for the NPS helicopter specialist position. The entire Fire and Aviation Management team is excited to have Nic join NPS. Since the position has been vacant for nearly a year, Nic can now focus his efforts on our regional and park helicopter operations. His knowledge and expertise will help the program move forward in the ever changing operational environment.”
Nic’s wife, Jolie, also works in wildland fire. They have a 16-year-old daughter that has sworn she will not work in wildland fire. In his spare time, Nic enjoys travelling internationally with his family, volunteering for the local Nordic ski club, bicycling to work and Nordic ski racing. This winter was the first year his daughter beat him in a ski race, but probably not the last.
A larger version of the image is available at https://go.nps.gov/Nic-Strohmeyer
Last updated: February 21, 2019