Great Alumni: On the Front Line

SEAHAWK SNIPPETS

Malcolm’s interest in wildland fire management was “sparked” as a UNCW student. Through UNCW’s Department of Environmental Sciences, he took a wildland fire management course taught by Angie Carl of the Nature Conservancy. He also worked with a variety of natural resource management agencies as an undergraduate, including Carolina Beach State Park and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services in Florida.

“Each of these positions was different in scope, but what they had in common was working outside in unique environments. Both provided experiences and certifications that opened doors in the natural resource management field,” he said. “Some of my fondest memories as a student go back to the times where my classroom was in the field.”

On the Front Line

ALUMNI

While working in 100-degree temperatures and carrying more than 45 pounds of equipment, Mike Malcolm ’03 could think only of whether he had enough resources to protect the homes that were in the line of the raging wildfire before him.

Over the summer, Malcolm, a district ranger with the North Carolina Forest Service, spent 14 days on the line fighting the Sugar Pine Fire in Prospect, OR, which burned more than 6,000 acres. He served as a division supervisor in charge of structure protection.

After obtaining his wildland firefighter certification, Malcolm landed an entry-level position with the NC Forest Service in his hometown of Camden, NC. His current position allows Malcolm to travel around the state and the U.S. assisting other agencies.

Malcolm said his experience at UNCW helped him become a better instructor, and led him full circle – he now teaches the same wildland fire management class that launched his career, along with wildland fire suppression at Cape Fear Community College. He also instructs wildfire classes across the state on an as-needed basis for the NC Forest Service.

“It’s nice to be able to give back to UNCW,” Malcolm said. It’s even better when I get emails from former students who have been able to utilize the certifications we provide to land internships and even permanent jobs.” – V.J.

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