The recently formed United Aerial Firefighters Association (UAFA) has named its first executive director and senior policy director.
Paul Petersen, currently state fire management officer with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Reno, Nevada, has been appointed UAFA executive director, effective May 1. Petersen started his career as a seasonal wildland firefighter in 1992 and has served in his current role with the BLM, an agency of the U.S. Interior Department, since 2015.
Tiffany Taylor, a veteran of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Forest Service, has already started work as the association’s senior policy director. Taylor most recently served as USDA director of the Office of Contracting and Procurement and previously held the position of Forest Service assistant director for acquisition management.
“Adding two strong industry professionals like Paul and Tiffany to the UAFA team was a big win for the association,” said 10 Tanker Air Carrier President and CEO John Gould, who is serving as the inaugural president for the UAFA board of directors. “With their help, we will continue to build strong relationships with key stakeholders and policymakers to ensure that aerial firefighters have the support and resources they need to keep our communities and natural resources safe.”
Launched in February, the UAFA currently lists 19 member companies, including operators 10 Tanker, Billings Flying Service, Bridger Aerospace, Courtney Aviation, Dauntless Air, Erickson Aero Tanker, Firehawk Helicopters, McDermott Aviation, Neptune Aviation Services and Timberline Helicopters and manufacturers Air Tractor and Daher.
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