Christopher Wilcox

Chris Wilcox serves as Deputy Director for Fire Readiness and Training for the U.S. Wildland Fire Service. Raised in Show Low, Arizona, Wilcox began his wildland fire career on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, working with engine modules before joining the Heber Interagency Hotshot Crew. He advanced through the ranks, serving as crewmember, squad boss, foreman and ultimately superintendent. In 2003, Wilcox joined the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a fuels assistant fire management officer.

Over his 33-year career, he has held numerous leadership roles across Department of the Interior bureaus, including assistant fire management officer, fire management officer, national fire operations, deputy fire director, fire director and chief of fire and aviation management.

Earlier in his career, Wilcox served on Type 1 and Type 2 incident management teams in the Southwest and Great Basin geographic areas in operations and command staff positions, including operations section chief and incident commander. He also served on and led numerous interagency boards and groups, including the National Multiagency Coordinating Group, Fire Management Board and National Wildfire Coordinating Group committees and task teams, including as chair of the NWCG Wildland Fire Leadership Development Committee.

Wilcox lives in Boise, Idaho, with his wife and two daughters. Outside of work, he enjoys hunting, fishing, whitewater rafting and supporting philanthropic organizations with his family.