Wayne A. Cook is a Fire Technology Transfer Specialist for the Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory. He received his B.S. degree in Recreation Resources Management with a Forestry Emphasis from the University of Montana. He is qualified as a Type II Incident Commander, Type I Fire Use Manager, Type II Operations Section Chief, and Fire Behavior Analyst.

As a Fire Technology Transfer Specialist, Wayne serves as an intermediary between Fire Research and Fire and Aviation Management representing the national interest on projects that affect the efficiency and effectiveness of fire management programs. He is also responsible for improving and facilitating the technology transfer process for all fire-related research, thus remaining very active in many national interagency technology transfer related projects.

Wayne joined the U.S. Forest Service in 1975 on an Interregional Fire Crew on the Nez Perce National Forest, becoming a smokejumper in 1977. Afterwards, he served as Program Leader for Interagency Fire Use and Fuels Management Training at the Northern Training Center. He also detailed to Spotted Bear Ranger Station on the Flathead National Forest as an Assistant District Ranger overseeing Fire Management, Range, and Ecology Programs.

Wayne served as an Incident Commander for 7 years on one of the National Interagency Fire Use Management Teams. He recently stepped down as Chair for the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG), Fire Environment Working Team’s Fire Behavior Committee and for the S-493 FARSITE – Fire Area Simulator course after over a decade of commitment. He has served and continues to serve on numerous steering committees and faculties for national and international related wildland fire management and research projects, programs and curriculums.