Team Members
Debbie Miley
Executive Director
NWSA Executive Director Debbie Miley has been an integral part of this organization since its inception. From a small conference room in Reno, Nevada in 1991, the first NWSA members elected Debbie to their Board of Directors. Her depth of fire industry experience – more than 20 years – has allowed Debbie to succeed at growing NWSA to the robust association that it is today.
Debbie is committed to helping NWSA members grow in capacity and professionalism as emergency service providers by offering training and education opportunities for its members. As the head of the association, Debbie works tirelessly to help the public, agencies and legislators better understand and support the wildland fire contracting industry.
For more than a decade, Debbie and her husband owned XL Hotshots, Inc., providing handcrews, engines, tenders and dozers to regional and national agencies. Upon retiring from the contracting industry, Debbie, who was already on the NWSA Board of Directors, was asked to serve as Executive Secretary and then Executive Director. She has been in those roles since 1997.
Rick Dice
President of the Board
In 1971, Rick Dice started in the fire businessas a partner in PatRick Environmental. It was incorporated in 1974 and Rick has held the position of President since that time. PatRick was the first private sector Corporation to successfully complete prescribed fire contracts with USFS and BLM in the late 70’s and early 80’s.
Rick’s burn boss experience began in 1972 with contract burning for landowners, private timber companiesand loggers on both private and public lands. For the past 30 years he has completed a large number of burn assignments on USFS administered lands as primary burn boss.
Rick’s fire experience started in 1966. He is a Founding member of NWSA, was Chairman of the Training Committee from 1989-1993. Rick has been President of NWSA for eight of the last 12 years.
Rick served in Vietnam in the Army as an SSG. He attended Portland Community College, PortlandState and University of Oregon. His major was education.
Chuck Burley
Government Relations
Chuck Burley’s deep involvement in the fire industry and his political experience make him a vital part of NWSA’s team.
Chuck is currently serving his second term in the Oregon House of Representatives. He has more than 28 years of experience with forestry, land management planning, policy analysis and information management.
A great deal of legislation moves through the legislature that can affect the wildland firefighting industry. In his role with NWSA, Chuck manages the government relations and helps to build relationships with legislators and ensure NWSA’s voice is heard on Capitol Hill.
Stan Kunzman
Training Coordinator
The high-caliber NWSA training program is a significant benefit to its membership. The Database Storage System, which tracks instructor and firefighter qualifications, supports this nationally-recognized program. Stan Kunzman coordinates all NWSA training. Stan retired from the U.S. Forest Service in 1994 and is currently a consulting forester. He has coordinated the NWSA training program since 1996.
Stan’s work in the U.S. Forest Service began in 1963. His experience spans the globe, not only across North America, but to Russia.
Stan was active for 15 years on National Incident Management Teams functioning as Operations Section Chief, Planning Section Chief and Incident Commander. He has also served as Area Commander, Military Liaison, and MAC Coordinator and was on the training cadre at the National Advanced Resource Technology Center for Fire Generalship.
Wayne Rowe
Assistant Training Coordinator
Wayne started his fire career in 1970 with USFS working at regionalwarehouse in Redmond, OR. He spent two years on the Redmond Inter-RegionalHotshot Crew. He also worked as headquarters fireman forUSFS at Sisters RD. In 1975, he transferred to the Department of Forestry forthe State of Oregon, where he worked for the next 28 years as aforest officer, forest practices officer, service foresterand finally the assistant unit forester.
Wayne was the chairperson of theCentral Oregon Fire Prevention Co-operative for more than 10 years and alsoserved on the cadre that put on the yearly fire prevention workshop forthe Pacific Northwest. In addition, his depth of experience includes work as a division supervisor for Team 1 for ODFfor 10 years and served as situation unit leader and resources unit leader for the Central Oregon Interagency Management Team. Sinceretiring in 2003, he has continued with the COIMT as a RESL. In additionto teaching various "S" and "L" classes, Wayne has most recently joined onwith NWSA as the Assistant Training Director.
Wayne has an AS degree in Forest Technology fromCentral Oregon Community College.
Missy Weaver
Office Manager
Missy Weaver grew up in and around her family’s fire business. Even as a young child, Missy remembers filling canteens, loading trailers, cleaning fire gear and washing crew vehicles and engines.
Missy’s understanding of the industry and her attention to detail make her a true asset to the NWSA team. She works part time in the office and also assist with maintaining the NWSA database, supporting the executive director in her day-to-day work.