Brett Walker

Experience

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  Snowbrook Forestry

  Jan 2007 - May 2008

  Forester/Wildlife Biologist

  As the owner/forester/wildlife biologist- Bid, awarded, and executed on the following contracts in national forests ranging from extensive common stand exams (CSE), continuous forest inventory (CFI), and vegetation mapping to invasive species and pest identification jobs:White Mountain National Forest, NH – Conducted CSE for the USDA Forest Service in New England. Located designated inventory areas and pre-established GPS coordinates on 5300 acres of Forest Service land. Recorded and entered timber data in the field on portable data recording unit.Nantahala National Forest, NC – Administered a forest vegetation mapping for suitable Northern Flying Squirrel forest habitats for the USDA Forest Service. Contract required recording habitat every 10 acres on a 5000 acre traverse of northern hardwood forest at high elevation (4000+ feet). Additionally, this bid required gathering information about the spread and extent of damage caused by the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid.Ouachita National Forest, AR and OK – Secured an optional 5 year contract to execute common stand exams for surveying and recording timber data across the national forest. Data was collected through portable data unit and delivered to the USDA Forest Service ahead of bid schedule. Show less

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  Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

  May 2008 - Nov 2013

  Lead Area Biologist to plan, develop, and implement wildlife management programs on the 23,646-acre, Herky Huffman/Bull Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and the 20,858-acre, Fort Drum WMA. As well as, coordinate other resource management programs on these areas and assists with management activities on other WMAs.Administrative and Management Planning: Prepares long-range plans (conceptual management plans), operational plans (annual work plans), quarterly and annual progress reports and other administrative documents providing guidelines for multiple use management of Herky Huffman/Bull Creek WMA. Public Use and Management Regulations: Provides supervisory personnel with information, recommendations and justification for regulations governing public use on Herky Huffman/Bull Creek and Fort Drum WMAs. Management Practices: Coordinates and/or conducts various wildlife habitat management practices including prescribed burning, exotic vegetation control, forest management, range management and water management. Wildlife and Vegetation Surveys: Conducts population surveys of game, nongame, threatened and endangered wildlife species using scientifically accepted techniques. Surveys habitat types and monitors changes which take place in various vegetative communities. Show less Served as the primary role of Waterfowl Area Manager at the T.M. Goodwin Waterfowl Management Area, a 6,500 acre wetland restoration project in the upper St. Johns River Basin, until October 2010. Promoted to Biological Scientist III.Evaluate and administer habitat management activities in the wetlands, including controlled burning, monitoring operational budgets, preparing and submitting quarterly and annual reports to the St. Johns River Water Management District, mechanically manipulating landscape using various standard and specialized wetland maintenance machinery, applying herbicides to promote growth and propagation of native moist soil plants, coordinating and managing public hunts and other public events.Provide technical input to public and private land managers in order to minimize waterfowl habitat loss and degradation. Assistant Supervisor for waterfowl habitat conservation and management throughout South Florida.Service as Associate Member of the Waterfowl Management Standing Team and as representative of the Aquatic Habitat Conservation and Restoration Commission at conferences and meetings on waterfowl and wetland issues.Responsibilities as wildlife technician included monitoring habitat conditions and assisting project managers with operation and maintenance of the wetlands. Conducted prescribed burnings, mechanical disturbance (disking, chopping) and chemical control as part of the management of wetland habitat. Collected habitat data, biological samples and waterfowl banding. Conducted wildlife and vegetation surveys and computer data entry. Operated a hunter check-station. Operated and maintained heavy equipment for habitat management, including track hoe excavators, bulldozers, 170 and 70 hp tractors, 15ft offset disc, 21ft roller chopper, backhoe/front-end loaders, dump trucks, hydraulic mowers, air boats, and other miscellaneous equipment. Show less

  • Biological Scientist III

    Oct 2010 - Nov 2013

  • Biological Scientist II

    May 2008 - Oct 2010
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  United States Military Academy at West Point

  Dec 2013 - Oct 2022

  Serves as professional staff advisor and consultant to the Commander and staff on environmental engineering matters, attending policy, community relations, and planning conferences.Attends post conferences regarding engineer activities and makes on-the-spot decisions relating to problems that involve complex environmental engineering matters.Makes changes in organizational structures and; functional alignment, balancing workload among subordinate organizations/ functions to increase effectiveness of operations.Determines causes of unfavorable trends and variations, makes authoritative recommendations on corrective actions required, and directs and supervises accomplishment of such actions.Collaborates with senior leadership of other activities to negotiate, decide on, and coordinate work related changes affecting other activities.Advises higher level management officials of problems involving the relationships of the operations supervised to broader programs and their impact on such programs.Provides guidance to employees in identifying training and development needs to enhance their capabilities.Oversee a workforce of 160+ employees and a multi-million dollar annual budget.Natural Resources BranchEnergy BranchCustodial BranchEnvironmental Compliance Branch Show less Responsible for fully integrating NEPA into the US Army planning and decision-making process; considering the impacts of US Army proposed actions on the quality of the human and natural environment; involve interested and affected agencies, governments, organizations and individuals early in the agency planning and decision-making process when significant impacts are or may be expected to alter the quality of the human and natural environment through implementation of proposed major Federal actions; and conduct and document environmental reviews and related decisions appropriately and efficiently.Serves as a program manager environmental media areas to ensure compliance with Federal, State, regional, and local environmental regulations.Conducts, initiates, and or directs engineering, or environmental protection surveys to inventory conditions, interpret data, and determine the most feasible corrective measures for various environmental deficiencies. Plans and conducts site investigations to determine potential environmental impacts.Implements environmental management policies on matters concerning environmental compliance, protection of natural resources, and environmental issues impacting public safety and welfare.Serves as liaison between the installation and other federal agencies while also providing consulting/advising services to the installation. Show less As part of the Environmental Management Division, duties include the professional, scientific, and technical work required in the administration of the forest and natural resource management program, including long range objectives of multiple use/sustained yield with emphasis on biodiversity and sustainability of the forest resource and to support military training. Serves as Contracting Officer Representative for a variety of resource surveys, timber sales, stand and habitat improvement projects. Prepares SOW’s and required forms for projects. Researches market and potential vendors. Post award, monitors contractor performance for compliance with contract. Certifies completion at conclusion of contract. Develops long-range resource management plans. Develops and executes annual work plans for the forestry and natural resources program. Coordinates work efforts with unit personnel to insure timely completion of work plans.Plans and accomplishes forest resource inventories and surveys pertaining to military, recreational, and wildlife use, reforestation and restoration, insect and disease, fuels, volume and value estimation. Analyzes findings, prepares technical reports, and executes appropriate action.As NEPA Coordinator:Responsible for fully integrating NEPA into the US Army planning and decision-making process;considering the impacts of US Army proposed actions on the quality of the human and natural environment; involve interested and affected agencies, governments, organizations and individuals early in the agency planning and decision-making process when significant impacts are or may be expected to alter the quality of the human and natural environment through implementation of proposed major Federal actions; and conduct and document environmental reviews and related decisions appropriately and efficiently. Show less

  • Chief, Environmental Management Division GS-13

    Aug 2019 - Oct 2022

  • Environmental Engineer (Regulatory/Compliance) GS-12

    Nov 2017 - Sept 2019

  • Forester/NEPA Coordinator GS-11

    Dec 2013 - Nov 2017
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  U.S. Forest Service

  Oct 2022 - now

  Implementation Staff Officer GS-13

  Serves as a Staff Officer and a principal staff specialist to the Forest Supervisor, on the Lolo National Forest and is responsible for providing long-range resource planning, program direction, coordination and evaluation of the Timber Management, Contracting, Silviculture, Heritage, and Geology & Minerals Programs.Provides leadership, coordination, direction, inventory planning, and budgetary oversight for the assigned natural resource program areas. Develops natural resource program management objectives, plans budgets, and manages related information for identifying work force and organizational requirements and priorities. Manages resource allocation and ensures legal compliance of expenditures. Responsible for long-range and project level planning advice and counsel for the Forest. Directs the long-term and short-term program goals and objectives for the Forest’s natural resource programs. Long-range plans include both conceptual and proposed implementation alternatives. These plans are integrated with other staff areas in order to accomplish all goals and objectives concerned with National Forest Management. Coordinates with District Rangers and other Staff Officers to ensure natural resource program goals and objectives are thoroughly understood. Monitors performance to ensure resource program goals and objectives are successfully achieved.Prepares recommendations for changes in management direction or operating procedures. Serves at the highest level of technical expertise for natural resource management. Monitors and reviews natural resource management activities on the forest for adherence to National, Regional and Forest regulations, Forest Plan standards and guides, including policies. Provides technical advice and guidance in strategic planning and directs the implementation of natural resource activities for the forest as well as the adaptation of higher-level policies and standards to local resource area conditions. Show less