Rachel is a wildfire risk consultant, Ph.D. scientist, and executive leader with over 20 years of experience in wildland fire management, disaster response, and conservation science across multiple continents. She has served in senior leadership roles with the U.S. Forest Service, including Deputy Regional Fire Director and Forest Supervisor, where she managed complex wildfire operations, led cross-functional teams of over 400 personnel, and oversaw project portfolios exceeding $100 million.
Rachel's expertise spans diverse fire-adapted ecosystems throughout North America, with extensive operational experience in the American West and the Southeast. Her international work includes wildland fire management and conservation initiatives with The Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) across Africa, Western Europe, Southeast Asia, and Central America.
She has collaborated with federal agencies including FEMA and state forestry organizations on wildfire and all-hazard emergency response, bringing science-based approaches to complex fire management challenges. Rachel is a trusted advisor to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), federal land management agencies, and regional forestry organizations, bridging the gap between fire science research, policy development, and operational implementation.
Her work emphasizes integrating ecological knowledge with risk mitigation strategies to develop sustainable, community-centered approaches to wildfire resilience in fire-prone landscapes worldwide.
Rachel is a wildfire risk consultant, a Ph.D. scientist, and an executive in public lands management with over 20 years of leadership experience, primarily in the South, focusing on land management, disaster response, and fire science. She serves as the Deputy Regional Fire Director for the U.S. Forest Service in the Southeast, responsible for wildfire response in Texas. Previously, she was the District Ranger of the Angelina-Sabine National Forests and a wildfire leader in Zavalla, Texas. She has collaborated with the Texas A&M Forest Service and federal FEMA leadership during wildfire and all-hazard responses in Denton and College Station, Texas. Rachel has a proven ability to manage project portfolios exceeding $100 million, lead cross-functional teams of over 400 members, and implement effective mitigation strategies. She is a trusted advisor to FEMA, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the Texas A&M Forest Service (TFS), and the Southern Group of State Foresters (SGSF).
Rachel is a wildfire risk consultant, a Ph.D. scientist, and an executive in public lands management with over 20 years of leadership experience, primarily in the South, focusing on land management, disaster response, and fire science. She serves as the Deputy Regional Fire Director for the U.S. Forest Service in the Southeast, responsible for wildfire response in Texas. Previously, she was the District Ranger of the Angelina-Sabine National Forests and a wildfire leader in Zavalla, Texas. She has collaborated with the Texas A&M Forest Service and federal FEMA leadership during wildfire and all-hazard responses in Denton and College Station, Texas. Rachel has a proven ability to manage project portfolios exceeding $100 million, lead cross-functional teams of over 400 members, and implement effective mitigation strategies. She is a trusted advisor to FEMA, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the Texas A&M Forest Service (TFS), and the Southern Group of State Foresters (SGSF).
Rachel is a wildfire risk consultant, a Ph.D. scientist, and an executive in public lands management with over 20 years of leadership experience, primarily in the South, focusing on land management, disaster response, and fire science. She serves as the Deputy Regional Fire Director for the U.S. Forest Service in the Southeast, responsible for wildfire response in Texas. Previously, she was the District Ranger of the Angelina-Sabine National Forests and a wildfire leader in Zavalla, Texas. She has collaborated with the Texas A&M Forest Service and federal FEMA leadership during wildfire and all-hazard responses in Denton and College Station, Texas. Rachel has a proven ability to manage project portfolios exceeding $100 million, lead cross-functional teams of over 400 members, and implement effective mitigation strategies. She is a trusted advisor to FEMA, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the Texas A&M Forest Service (TFS), and the Southern Group of State Foresters (SGSF).
