Professional Profile
Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC)

"The perfect job for the perfect person" may seem like an impossible aspiration, but listening to Neal Edmondson may convince one otherwise. The Georgia Forestry Commission's Prescribed Fire Program Manager has thrived on "being outside in the woods and working with fire" since he was a young man growing up in Upson County.

"I've been around it all my life," said Edmondson, "and that led me straight to a Ranger job in 1984."   

In fact, Edmondson's first job with the GFC as a Forest Patrolman (now Ranger 1) in Coweta County was preceded by a stint in the U.S. Army infantry and 20 years of service to the National Guard. But when he landed the forestry post, he knew he'd found an ideal fit.

So did the GFC. After a successful 13 years in the field, Edmondson was promoted to Chief Ranger in his home county, a post he held until 2000.

"As a Ranger, I had a lot of one on one interaction with the landowners, and I enjoyed that," said Edmondson. "As Upson's Chief Ranger, I got more exposed to District-level activities. I supervised the firefighters and learned more about agency operations statewide."

When the opportunity arose for the Prescribed Fire Program Manager position, Edmondson jumped.

"That was right up my alley," he said.

One of Edmondson's main responsibilities is staging GFC's Prescribed Fire Certification training courses. Several two-day sessions are presented throughout the state annually to an average of 120 participants who receive comprehensive instruction on subjects such as fire behavior, fire weather and fire tactics before being tested and certified to conduct their own burns.

The smoke created by prescribed fire is one of Edmondson's primary concerns. He works closely with Georgia's Environmental Protection Division to safeguard air quality while protecting the valuable land management tool of burning. Edmondson coordinates with GFC District personnel and the agency's meteorologist, Dan Chan, to help landowners understand the air quality implications of their burns and to utilize the online tools and services GFC provides for ensuring successful burns. At least three times a year, Edmondson presents Landowner Field Days, teaching about and demonstrating prescribed burns.

Edmondson represents the Georgia Forestry Commission and its Type II Incident Management team during times of emergency in the state. As a trusted partner to the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, the Georgia Forestry Commission provides the trained personnel and equipment needed to respond to tornadoes, hurricanes, fires and other disasters. Edmondson coordinates the dispatch of resources and serves on the joint agency team that manages disasters.

Another part of Edmondson's job is writing specifications for all of GFC's firefighting equipment and handling relations with equipment vendors.

"When we receive a new piece of equipment, I set up training and do demonstrations," he said. "Our people run it and evaluate it, which is important so we get what we need and are ready for the fires or other emergencies."

One of Edmondson's favorite education projects is known as "Marchmaster," a week-long prescribed fire training class for University of Georgia forestry students held annually at the Jones Ecological Center in Baker County.

"These are serious students," Edmondson said of the class participants who come to the center during their Spring Break. "They learn about planning and blocking, burning, fire weather, and much more."

When Edmondson isn't working outdoors on the GFC clock, he can often be found enjoying the outdoors on the family clock. He and his wife, Kay, live in Upson County and spend leisure time camping throughout the state. Neal also likes fishing for shoal bass on the Flint River and for trout in north Georgia. He has a woodworking shop at home where he builds cabinets and small pieces of furniture. He and Kay have three grown sons and an eight year old granddaughter.

Edmondson pauses before answering the question, "What do you like best about your job with GFC?" Clearly, there's a lot he enjoys and clearly, the Georgia Forestry Commission and its many stakeholders are the beneficiaries.

"I like working with the customers, at landowner meetings and on complicated burns," he said. "I like solving the issues surrounding a burn near an urban area and advising folks about how to handle that. I like working with other agencies and doing the things we do: going to fires, hurricanes, ice storms. And helping people who've been hit by disaster. That's the best part - helping people out."     


by Stasia Kelly, GFC Writer


                                                  Professional Profile highlights GFC's workforce and the variety of services they provide to Georgia.