Plot your locationIAWF PAST PRESIDENTS
Chuck Bushey, Immediate Past President (2007 - 2011)
Billings, Montana, USA
Charles Bushey was the President of the IAWF from 2007-2011. He is President of Montana Prescribed Fire Services, Inc. performing duties as fire ecologist, prescribed fire specialist, fire behavior analyst, and fuel mitigation specialist. Previously Chuck worked at the USDA Forest Service, Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory and later Systems for Environmental Management, Inc. on fire research topics dealing with post-fire effects, fire use, wilderness fires, fire behavior, and smoke management. A few of his fire qualifications have included Fire Behavior Analyst, Wildland Fire Arson Investigator, and Strike Team Leader (Engines). Chuck has an MSc from Southern Illinois University - Carbondale, and has authored over 50 publications and reports.
Dick Mangan, Past President (2004 - 2006)
Missoula, Montana, USA
Dick is the principal of Blackbull Wildfire Services. He retired from the U.S. Forest Service Technology & Development Center in Missoula, Montana in 2000 with more than 30 years wildfire experience. He served as an advisor to the NWCG Safety & Health and Fire Equipment Working Teams, and was Chair of the NFPA Technical Committee on Wildland Fire Protective clothing and Equipment (NFPA 1977) from 1995-2000. In the wildfire suppression world, Dick is qualified (red carded) as an Operations Section Chief, Safety Officer and Planning Section Chief, and has been involved in suppression operations across the U.S. He has both written and spoken widely on Fire Safety and Equipment issues, both across the U.S. and internationally, including Australia, Spain and Siberia. As a past president of IAWF, Dick remains an active member of the Association, as well as the National Fire Protection Association, and the National Association of Fire Investigators. In April 2001, he was awarded the GEICO Insurance Public Service Award for Fire Safety.
Bruce Suenram, Past President (2000-2003)
Bruce Suenram has worked in the field of fire protection and prevention since 1969. He is currently a Deputy Chief of the Fire & Aviation Bureau of MT Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. He administers the preparedness activities of the Bureau such as training, fire prevention, fire investigation, GIS, assessments, information technology, and equipment development.
Bruce served as Montana's State Fire Marshal (1992-1997), as chief of the Missoula Rural Fire District (1980-1992), and as the chief of the Kelseyville, CA, Fire Protection District (1974-1980).
Bruce was on the original code development committee for the Urban/Wildland Interface Code and on the International Fire Chief's Association Urban/Wildland Interface Committee. He acted as the liaison for the National Association of State Fire Marshals to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group's Urban/Wildland Interface Advisory Committee.
In addition, Bruce has taught courses for the National Fire Academy, the Northern Training Center, the Montana Fire Services Training School and the Montana Law Enforcement Academy.
He served as an Incident Commander for a Type II Incident Management Team for 8 years. Bruce is also qualified as a Type 1 Planning Section Chief.
Bruce received a bachelor's degree in biological sciences from California State College Stanislaus in 1973.
Bruce is currently serving as the National Association of State Foresters representative to the International Association of Fire Chiefs Wildland Fire Policy Committee. Bruce is an ex officio member of the Board of Directors of FireSafe Montana. He is also the MT State Coordinator for the Montana Chapter of Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry.
Michael DeGrosky, Past President (1998-1999)
Chief Executive of Guidance Group, Inc. a consulting firm specializing in the human and organizational aspects of the fire and emergency services. He is an experienced wildland and municipal fire professional with an emergency service background spanning more than 30 years. Mike is an alumnus of the University of Montana, School of Forestry and Fort Hays State University, College of Business and Leadership, where he earned a master's degree in organizational leadership. He is currently a PhD candidate at Northcentral University, where he is researching training transfer from leadership development programs
