National Wildfire Coordinating Group
National Interagency Fire Center
3833 S Development Avenue
Boise, Idaho 83705-5354
MEMORDANDUM
Reference:
NWCG#007-2012
To:
John Glenn, BLM Fire Operations Division Chief
From:
NWCG Chair
Date:
June 15, 2012
Subject:
Wildland Fire Institute Board of Directors Letter of Appointment – John Glenn
The NWCG Executive Board (EB) is pleased to appoint you as the new Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) representative on the Wildland Fire Institute Board of Directors, replacing
Lynda Boody. The establishment of this Board is a significant step forward in laying the
foundation for the success of the Wildland Fire Institute (WFI).
The WFI is a paradigm shift in wildland fire training, learning, employee development, and
workforce planning. The Board of Directors (BoD) is an important first step in the startup of the
WFI and is critical to the efficient transition from the current wildland fire training and learning
model.
The role of the Board of Directors is to:
 Provide strategic guidance and oversight for the Wildland Fire Institute.
 Focus on learning and development.
 Develop the Transition Plan for the WFI and provide oversight for the transition.
o Initial Plan outlines standup and transition to WFI; 3-5 year plan.
o Transition Plan development can be facilitated and administrative support
provided if requested.
 Recommend funding priorities based on NWCG Executive Board strategic direction.
o NWCG EB determines annual program and project funding based on BoD’s
recommendations.
 Policy Making – Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and operational
guidance for the WFI.
In addition to the above, this first BoD will be responsible for developing and defining business
practices and operating standards for the Board.
NWCG#007-2012
WFI Board of Directors Letter of
Appointment - Glenn
Page 1 of 2
For the transition period, the Executive Board has designated a WFI Implementation Task Team
(ITT). This body will provide subject matter advice and, to a limited extent, provide staff work
to the BoD. All ITT members will continue to work within their existing supervisory structure;
they are a member of the ITT for the expertise and background they can provide, in part, based
on their current position.
Deb Fleming, NWCG Training Branch Manager, and Bonnie Wood, NWCG Manager, will be
your key contacts for the BoD. Enclosed you will find the WFI Board of Directors Charter and
Intent Document.
Thank you for your support of the Wildland Fire Institute. There has been considerable work
and hours of deliberation to get to this point. Your role now is critical to continue the good work
already completed.
Attachment A: WFI Board of Directors Charter
Attachment B: WFI Board of Directors Intent Document
cc: NWCG Executive Board
Bonnie Wood, NWCG Manager
Deb Fleming, NWCG Training Branch Manager
Program Management Unit (PMU)
Budget Advisory Unit (BAU) Chair
Roy Johnson, OWFC Deputy Director
Rod Bloms, OWFC Program Analyst
Bill Waterbury, Forest Service
Dan Smith, National Association of State Foresters
Lyle Carlile, Bureau of Indian Affairs
Marie Bates, WFI Administrative Support
NWCG#007-2012
WFI Board of Directors Letter of
Appointment - Glenn
Page 2 of 2
NATIONAL
WILDfiRE
COORDINATING
GROUP
Wildland Fire Institute Board of Directors
Charter
1.
Background
The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) was formed in January 1974, to expand operational
cooperation and coordination between various public agencies having jurisdictional responsibility for
wildland fire management.
In 2007, NWCG was re-chartered,
expanding its responsibility
and adding new partners. The board
chartered herein is one of a number of support groups established by the NWCG to provide stewardship
for specific business segment areas in fire management.
2.
Name
The name of this board, hereinafter referred to as the Board, is the Wildland Fire Institute Board of
Directors (WFI BoD) of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group Executive Board.
3.
Authority
The Board is established pursuant to the authorities
Charter, October 11, 2007.
granted in the National Wildfire Coordinating
Group
The deliberations of this Board are exempt from the Federal Advisory Committee Act under section 204
of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995.
The Board Chair is authorized to convene meetings and schedule agenda items. The Board Chair is also
authorized to make contacts, negotiate work assignments, and make commitments on behalf of the
Board.
4.
Purpose
The Board is established to provide national interagency strategic direction, oversight, guidance, vision
and advocacy for the Wildland Fire Institute.
5.
Membership
Board membership will reflect a mix of people who are knowledgeable in the subject area of the Board
and who are from NWCG member agencies and organizations. With NWCG Executive Board approval,
other agencies or organizations that are not NWCG members may be selected for Board membership.
The National Wildfire Coordinating
Group Executive Board will approve the Board Chair. The term of the
Board Chair appointment will be 2 years and may be extended at the discretion of the National Wildfire
Coordinating Group Executive Board.
Wildland Fire Institute Board of Directors Charter
1
The primary Board member roster will be approved by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group
Executive Board. The terms of each primary member will be 4 years and may be extended at the
discretion of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group Executive Board.
6.
Organization
The Board is under the direction ofthe
National Wildfire Coordinating
Group Executive Board.
The Board may Create task teams.
7.
Cooperation and Coordination
The Board will work through the National Wildfire Coordinating Group Executive Board to ensure
appropriate coordination, collaboration, and information sharing with other groups and organizations
for the subject matter and specific tasks ofthe Board.
8.
Responsibility
The Board is primarily responsible for providing strategic direction, guidance, and advocacy for the
Wildland Fire Institute.
9.
Charter Amendments
Changes to, or revocation of, this charter must follow the process outlined in the NWCG Operating
Principles and Guidelines.
10.
Charter Approval
This charter is effective as of the date of approval by the Chair of the National Wildfire Coordinating
Group Executive Board and shall remain in effect until revised or revoked.
Approved:
Chair, National Wildfire Coordinating
Group
Executive Board
Wildland Fire Institute Board of Directors Charter
2
Wildland Fire Institute Board of Directors
Organization Intent
Contents
1 Identification
2 Strategic Intent
2.1 Vision
2.2 Purpose
2.3 Mission
2.4 Responsibility
3 Scope
4 Authorities
4.1 Delegation of Authority
5 Organization Structure & Relationships
5.1 Relationships
5.2 Stakeholders & Partners
6 Membership
6.1 General
6.2 Primary
6.3 Associate
7 Products & Services
Thursday, March 01, 2012
Page 1 of 3
Wildland Fire Institute Board of Directors
Organization Intent
1 Identification
The Wildland Fire Institute Board of Directors (WFI BoD) is a planned interagency, NWCG board informally known as the WFI Board of Directors, known herein as the Board.
2 Strategic Intent
2.1 Vision:
An integrated wildland fire learning and development network that supports the work duties of wildland
firefighters and agency needs.
2.2 Purpose:
The Board has been established to provide national interagency strategic direction, oversight, guidance, vision
and advocacy for the Wildland Fire Institute.
2.3 Mission:
To provide oversight and leadership to the Wildland Fire Institute.
The mission goals are:
1. Direct the transition to the Wildland Fire Institute.
2. Ensure the development and implementation of metrics and evaluation processes to assess employee
learning and performance, effectiveness and efficiency of instruction, and performance improvement
solutions.
3. Champion a positive learning culture throughout the agencies.
4. Collaborate with other organizations to identify strategic performance needs and leverage solutions
that transfer to the workplace.
5. Communicate the change from a training based to a learning based culture across the wildland fire
community.
2.4 Responsibility:
The Board is primarily responsible for providing strategic direction, guidance, and advocacy for the Wildland Fire
Institute
Other responsibilities include:
• approving the Wildland Fire Institute operating principles and guidelines
• collaborating with others to create sustainable change
• disseminating information about the Wildland Fire Institute to the NWCG Executive Board and key
stakeholders
• recommending individuals to fullfil the Dean roles to the NWCG Executive Board
• recommending priorities and funding to the NWCG Executive Board
• recruiting and mentoring future BoD member replacements and assisting with knowledge transfer
• reviewing and approving the Annual Accomplishment Report
3 Scope
The scope of the Board is described as:
Strategic leadership and guidance for the Wildland Fire Institute.
4 Authorities
The Board is established under the following authorities:
• National Wildfire Coordinating Group Charter, October 11, 2007
The Board is established by the following documented agreements:
4.1 Delegation of Authority
The Board is delegated the authority to:
Thursday, March 01, 2012
Page 2 of 3
Wildland Fire Institute Board of Directors
Organization Intent
• Create task teams. This authority is delegable to subgroups.
• Decide how to accomplish work. This authority is delegable to subgroups.
• Recommend investments. This authority is delegable to subgroups.
5 Organization Structure & Relationships
The WFI BoD is responsible to the NWCG Executive Board.
The Board is advised by the WFI Implementation Task Team (Implementation Team) until the Chief Learning Officer
position is established and transitions, at which time the Implementation Team will be phased out. The Board also
interacts with the NWCG Program Management Unit and the WFI Deans.
5.1 Relationships:
The Board is a subgroup of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group Executive Board (NWCG EB) .
The Board is accountable to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group Executive Board (NWCG EB) .
5.2 Stakeholders & Partners
Wildland fire community
6 Membership
6.1 General :
The WFI BoD is appointed by and reports to the NWCG Executive Board. The Board membership is intended to represent executive leadership for the organizations from which the members come.
- One member represents the NWCG Executive Board and serves as liaison between the two boards. - One member is selected to represent workforce learning and performance improvement expertise who is not a
member of the NWCG agencies.
Member's terms conclude every other year after the first two years until a pattern is established where by one
new member rotates on every year.
6.2 Primary :
6.3 Associate :
7 Products & Services
Current Strategic Plan for the WFI
Annual and strategic recommendations for WFI priorities and funding
Approved Annual Accomplishment Report to stakeholders
Approved Change Management Plans
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