Dr. José Antonio Vega

Dr Vega has made career-long contributions to wildland fire science through research, academic achievements, teaching, and publication in an impressive range of areas encompassing forest fire protection, forest hydrology, fire effects on soils, soil erosion, post fire soil stabilization and rehabilitation, fire ecology, prescribed fire, forest fuel reduction treatments, and forest fuel modelling. He is the founder of the Forest Fire Laboratory of the Forestry Research Center of the Xunta de Galicia in Lourizán (Pontevedra) and has managed this Center and coordinated the Fire Research Group for 25 years. He was an Associate Professor at the University of Vigo teaching fire science for over 21 years. He has been an officer of the IUFRO and coordinator of the Group of Forest Fires of the Spanish Society of Forest Science. He has served as a Guest Lecturer, Visiting Professor, and Visiting Scientist at numerous universities, institutes, training centers, research centers throughout Europe, South America, and the United States. Dr Vega has an exemplary publication record having authored over 300 publications. Dr. Vega is a well-respected leader and an admired role model for others in fire science and has been recognized with awards in Spain and the United States. His long-term commitments and achievements to the advancement of wildland fire science excellence truly personify the spirit of the Ember Award.