Gillian Fay has been appointed as the wildland fire budget officer for the National Park Service. In addition to this role, she will also serve as program lead in the office of policy and budget for the wildland fire branch of the agency.
Despite being a fresh appointment, Fay is no stranger to the position of a budget officer. According to a news release dated Jan. 12 that announced her selection, she boasts seven years of experience as the national fire budget officer for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Branch of Fire Management at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise, Idaho.
Fay's professional journey includes multiple roles in Colorado between 2005 and 2016. She has served as the Colorado State Office Fire and Aviation budget analyst and incident business program analyst, as well as Front Range District Office budget analyst, property/fleet manager among other roles with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Colorado, states the Jan. 12 news release.
Jason Fallon, Wildland Fire Branch Chief said: "Gill's leadership and technical skills will certainly help further the program. She has a practical focus on business and budget implementation to support program accomplishment. We are very excited to welcome Gill to the National Park Service team."
The National Park Service Wildland Fire Program shoulders responsibility for protecting infrastructure, communities, natural and cultural resources, and public safety during fires. According to information available on its web page, members of this program follow a strategic plan which involves responding to wildfires across all parks under its jurisdiction. The NPS Wildland Fire Program operates under the Division of Fire and Aviation Management.
Members of this team are involved in conducting prescribed fires, responding to wildfires and aiding areas recover post-fire events. They also monitor fire effects and undergo regular training to ensure readiness for action.
On Jan. 12, National Park Service Fire and Aviation Management extended their welcome to Fay in her new role. They wrote: "Join us in welcoming Gillian "Gill" Fay to the National Park Service! Gill has been selected as the wildland fire budget officer and program lead for Policy and Budget within the Branch of Wildland Fire. She previously worked for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fire and has an extensive background with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Colorado."
