2009 Paul Gleason Lead by Example Award Winners

Six individuals from the wildland fire service were chosen to receive the 2009 national Paul Gleason Lead by Example Award. The recipients were selected for demonstrating valued leadership traits during or in support of wildland fire operations.

The annual award was created to honor Paul Gleason, a wildland firefighter whose career spanned several decades before he succumbed to cancer in 2003. Gleason is best known for developing the LCES (Lookout, Communication, Escape Routes, Safety Zones) concept that become the foundation for wildland firefighter safety. Throughout his career, Gleason led and mentored firefighters, studied and taught wildland fire, and worked to improve firefighter safety. The award highlights Gleason's influence on and contribution to wildland fire management, while honoring those who demonstrate the spirit of leadership for which he was known.

The award is sponsored by the Wildland Fire Leadership Development Subcommittee under the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, an interagency, intergovernmental group that works to improve policy, standards, and safety in wildland and prescribed fire management. The Paul Gleason Lead by Example Award is based on three categories: motivation and vision, mentoring and teamwork, or initiative and innovation. Individuals and groups from federal, state, local, and tribal agencies are eligible for the award.

The 2009 award winners are:

• Dennis Baldridge, USFS
  Motivation and Vision
• Pete Glover, Michigan DNR
  Mentoring and Teamwork
• Steve Holdsambeck, USFS
  Initiative and Innovation
• Kathy Komatz, NPS
  Initiative and Innovation
• Stan Stewart, USFS
  Motivation and Vision

Visit http://www.fireleadership.gov/toolbox/documents/
gleason_award_past_recipients.html to find out more about these award winners.

Leadership Flashback

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the development of LCES. The concept of LCES was developed by Paul Gleason while Superintendent of the Zigzag Hotshots.

On June 26, 1990, during transition to a Type 1 Incident Management Team, the Dude Fire near Payson, Arizona, made a spectacular and tragic run. As a result, the Perryville Type 2 crew was burned and six firefighters lost their lives. Paul Gleason, his crew, and other crews and overhead were farther up the same hill in a predetermined safety zone. Such a horrific experience changed the firefighting habits of everyone involved, and prompted Paul to conceive and publish LCES. Paul taught us that by doing a good job with lookouts, communications, escape routes, and safety zones we are essentially accomplishing all the Standard Firefighting Orders and Situations that Shout Watch Out.

WF Leadership Challenge Contribution

Jaime Barnes, E-381 Assistant Captain, North Zone Fire Management/ Black Hills NF, Leadership in Cinema plan for Band of Brothers - Chapter 7: The Breaking Point.

Write a book review or select a book from the Professional Reading Program and facilitate a leadership blog book club. Submit the book, reading schedule, questions for discussion, and facilitator name/contact information to leadership_feedback@nifc.blm.gov.