J. Kevin Hiers, PhD, The Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) and the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), Washington, DC, USA
Dr. Hiers is the Department of Defense (DoD) Program Manager for Resource Conservation and Resilience that oversees SERDP and ESTCP. He identifies research needs for conservation, climate adaptation, and wildland fire management on DoD installations, managing over 75 projects across the U.S. and Pacific Islands. With nearly 30 years of experience, Dr. Hiers has specialized in fire ecology and endangered species conservation. He previously held roles at Eglin AFB, The Nature Conservancy, and the U.S. Geological Survey. Dr. Hiers earned his undergraduate degree from Sewanee: The University of the South, Sewanee, and a Master’s in conservation ecology from the University of Georgia, Athens. He recently joined the editorial board of Fire Ecology.
C. Alina Cansler, PhD, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
An Assistant Professor specializing in applied fire and landscape ecology, Dr. Cansler's research at western North America examines the impacts of disturbance and climate change on ecosystems, leveraging field data and remote sensing techniques. Certified as a Fire Ecologist by the Association for Fire Ecology, fire ecology remains a central focus of her work. Dr. Cansler's research spans plant functional traits, community ecology, plant conservation biology, ecosystem biomass and fuel structure, reanalysis of large datasets, and active remote sensing applications for research and management purposes. She earned her PhD and MS in environmental and forest resources from the University of Washington, Seattle. Dr. Cansler recently joined the editorial board of Fire Ecology.
Phillip J. van Mantgem, PhD, USGS, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Arcata, CA, USA
Dr. Phillip van Mantgem is a research ecologist at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center, specializing in forest and fire ecology. Since 2008, he has been with the USGS Redwood Field Station in Arcata, CA, after previously working at the USGS Sequoia and Kings Canyon Field Station in Three Rivers, CA. Dr. van Mantgem holds a Ph.D. in Ecology (2001) and an M.S. in Plant Biology (1996) from the University of California, Davis, and a B.S. in Botany (1991) from the University of Iowa. His extensive research has significantly advanced understanding of ecosystem responses to natural and human-induced changes, particularly in fire ecology, shaping modern conservation strategies and management practices.
