William F. Brash Jr., President:

Bill has a Bachelor’s degree in Forest Management from West Virginia University and a Master’s Degree in Environmental Science from Montclair State College.

Bill has worked with the NJ Forest Fire Service as a Wildfire Preparedness Planner since 2010 developing the first Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP) for 35 “at-risk” communities in New Jersey. Bill is an active member of the NJ Forest Fire Service’s B10 crew.

Bill established the New Jersey Fire Safety Council in 2015 with support and assistance from the Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network, a national network of dedicated professionals seeking to create resiliency in Communities through wildfire preparedness.
John Cowie:

Education:
AA in Liberal Arts- Ocean County College, Toms River, New Jersey
BA in Environmental Science- Stockton State College, Pomona, New Jersey

Barnegat Fire Company:  
Graduated Ocean County Fire Academy 1980
Past President 2009/ 2010/ 2011
Present Trustee on The Board of Trustees
Present Ready, Set, Go Chair
2013 recipient of the Ready, Set, Go National Volunteer Fire Company Award for Excellence
Served on the Fundraising Committee and By-Laws Committee
Present Building committee Chair

New Jersey Forest Fire Service:
Joined the New Jersey Forest Fire Service in 1982 
Present District Forest Fire Warden (B5D1 )
President of Central New Jersey District Forest Fire Wardens Association
Past Secretary of Central New Jersey District Forest Fire Wardens Association 

 

Maris Gabliks:

Currently works for the United States Forest Service, Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry, Fire and Aviation Management Staff as a Cooperative Fire Specialist.  His responsibilities include administering the State Fire Assistance Program to the 20 Northeastern States, serving as the Fire Liaison to the St. Paul Field Office, working with Forest Fire Mutual Aid Compacts, serving as a Prescribed Fire and Smoke Management Specialist, and working with FEMA as a Fire Coordination Specialist during regional and national emergencies.

Before coming to the U.S. Forest Service, Maris had an active 27-year career with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. Appointed as the State Firewarden in 2001, Maris directed statewide operations, which included fire suppression, preparedness, prevention, information and education, hazard mitigation, training, law enforcement, and aviation. Maris’ leadership was key in developing wildfire hazard mitigation, preparedness, and firewise strongholds in the volatile Pine Barrens region where serious wildland-urban interface fires are common. After a large wildfire in 2007, Maris worked with the
New Jersey Pinelands Commission and local agencies to implement a Fire Safety Initiative that encourages communities throughout the Pine Barrens to develop appropriate strategies to effectively address wildfire potential.

Maris has served as a member and past chair of the Northeast Forest Fire Supervisors, co-chair of the Northeast Area State Aviation Committee, State representative to the Mid Atlantic Forest Fire Protection Compact, and Northeast representative to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group’s Wildland Urban Interface Committee. Maris belongs to the Adelphia Fire Company as a volunteer firefighter and past chief, and currently serves as president. Maris is a lifelong resident of New Jersey.

Maris holds a Bachelor’s degree in Forest Resource Management from Rutgers University, a Master’s degree in Administrative Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program.