Fuels Management

Scott Stephens, Ph.D.

Professor of Fire Science, University of California, Berkeley

Scott Stephens is interested in the interactions of wildland fire and ecosystems. This includes how prehistoric fires once interacted with ecosystems, how current wildland fires are affecting ecosystems, and how future fires and management will influence people and ecosystems. He is also interested in wildland fire and forest policy and how it can be improved to meet the challenges of the coming decades, both nationally and internationally. Working with Indigenous partners to learn how to steward ecosystems into the future with climate change is a key area of research.

Stephens has given testimony on fire and forest policy at the US House of Representatives, the White House, California Assembly and Senate, California Governor’s office, and recently severed on the 2024 US Wildfire Commission.  He is on the Board of Directors of the Climate Wildfire Institute and is one of the leaders of The Stewardship Project which is a partnership of Indigenous people and western science to improve federal fire policy.

Patricia Johnson

Fire Management Specialist/Fire Planner, Pacific West Region, National Park Service

Patty started her career with the US Forest Service in 1990 as a seasonal employee working on a “project” crew on the Mt. Hood National Forest in Oregon.  She worked there several seasons on the crew and engines before moving on for two years to work in monitoring and silviculture.  During this time, Patty received a Bachelor’s Degree from Lewis and Clark College, in Portland Oregon and a Master’s Degree in Forestry from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado.  While in Colorado, Patty worked with a USFS tree nursery, for the State of Colorado developing forestry brochures for homeowners, on a research project in National Parks concerning forage for ungulates, and with the White Mountain National Forest in silviculture.  From there, she spent five years in the smokejumper program for the US Forest Service where she gained some invaluable fire suppression skills.  In 2002, Patty decided to get more serious about a career path and took a Prescribed Fire Specialist job on the east zone of the Superior National Forest out of Grand Marais, Minnesota. I worked in that position for 10 years identifying, preparing NEPA analysis, and implementing fuels projects. In 2012, Patty became the Zone Fire Management Officer for another 10 years and oversaw both the suppression and fuels management side of the fire program.  In 2022, she moved over to the National Park service where she still serves as a regional fire planner, assisting with the development of Fire Management Plans, doing fire behavior analysis for large fires, teaching courses, and participating on national fire committees. Patty lives in Minnesota with her family and pets, working remotely and traveling to national parks as needed. 

Jen Croft

National Applied Fire Ecologist, United States Forest Service

Jen has worked with the US Forest Service for 30 years, specializing in fire and aviation management. She has a strong background in predicting fire behavior, handling complex burns, and using aerial ignition. She still helps with wildland fires by forecasting smoke, planning strategies, and predicting fire behavior.

Currently, she oversees national hazardous fuels policy and strategy. Her position works with regional fuels managers across the country to ensure they are equipped with the best available science and direction to reach administration goals.  Her portfolio often includes international programs, Tribal nations, active management policies, and workforce development.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in forestry, a master’s in Natural Resource Management, and a graduate certificate in environmental policy. Jen maintains her fire qualifications to stay connected with fieldwork and big fire events.

Brad Hutnik

Forest Ecologist/Silviculturist, Division of Forestry – Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and co-host of SilviCast

Brad Hutnik is a forest ecologist / silviculturist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Since 2012, Brad has served as a member of the WDNR Silviculture​​ Team. As such, Brad currently works statewide on forest ecology and silviculture issues and has been involved with prescribed fire as a management tool throughout his career. Brad previously served as the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway forester (2002-2012) and worked as a staff forester at Clark Forestry, Inc. (1997-2002). Brad received a bachelor’s degree in forest management at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1997. He is a Certified Silviculturist (USDA-FS) and co-host of UWSP’s SilviCast podcast.​​