Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Professional Affiliations
Timeline
Generic

Gabe Mahlum

Round Rock,Texas

Summary

Certified Emergency Manager and seasoned operational leader with experience spanning wildland fire, emergency management, and continuity planning across local, state, and federal government. Adept at building and leading multi-disciplinary teams, coordinating large-scale incident response operations, and developing integrated plans that advance community resilience and organizational preparedness. Skilled in navigating complex governance structures, supporting elected officials, and emergency executives, and driving interagency collaboration to deliver both immediate response and long-term mitigation outcomes. Proven track record in FEMA grant administration, public safety leadership, and standing up scalable systems that bridge policy with field operations.

Overview

21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Land Management Officer

Travis County
Austin, Texas
03.2024 - Current
  • Direct oversight and responsibility for Fire, Forestry, and Fuels Management Programs within the Land Management Division, overseeing fuels mitigation, wildfire prevention and preparedness, prescribed fire, and incident response across more than 36,000 acres of county properties. Direct interagency coordination and support for Travis County's wildfire risk reduction, resiliency, and continuity strategies.
  • Manage the development and implementation of county-wide fire and fuels management plans, including prescribed fire operations, shaded fuel break construction, and hazardous fuels reductions.
  • Serve as a liaison to regional, state, and federal agencies to develop interlocal mitigation, response, and recovery agreements, and emergency planning efforts.
  • Provide ICS/NIMS training and support for wildfire and all-hazards response integration; serve in leadership roles within incident management structures during EOC or IMT activations.
  • Support the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, Community Wildfire Defense Grant, and TIFMAS and IMT deployment logistics and reimbursement process.

Chief, Emergency Support Function 4

Texas A&M Forest Service
Austin, Texas
01.2023 - 03.2024
  • State Coordinator for Emergency Support Function (ESF) 4, Firefighting, under the Texas Division of Emergency Management.
  • Provide leadership and strategic oversight for the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System, the Texas A&M All-Hazards Incident Management Team Program, and the Fire-line Medic Program.
  • Serve as the agency representative on the Texas Emergency Management Council, the State Emergency Response Commission, and the State Homeland Security Council.

Assistant Chief, SOC

Texas A&M Forest Service
Austin, Texas
12.2018 - 12.2022
  • Member of the Texas A&M Forest Service's Incident Response Department Leadership, assigned as the full-time State Agency Liaison and Emergency Support Function 4 (ESF 4) Lead Coordinator to the Texas Division of Emergency Management's State Emergency Operations Center.
  • Provides strategic planning and professional development of agency incident responders, the Texas Incident Management Teams, and the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System Program.
  • Develops and assists with the development of state emergency management-related policies, procedures, and plans.
  • Advises agency leadership on governmental policies, directives, and/or practices that may impact the agency and administered programs.
  • Promotes collaboration with local, state, and federal emergency response organizations on fire and all-hazard incident related issues.
  • Serves on Department Command Staff and agency Incident Management Team's Command and General Staff during field response.
  • Coordinates and prepares Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) declaration documents and serves as agency liaison to FEMA and USFS Principal Advisor regarding FMAG program.

Regional Fire Coordinator

Texas A&M Forest Service
, Texas
12.2014 - 01.2019
  • Coordinated wildland fire mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery activities across 7 counties.
  • Provided ICS, NIMS, All-Hazards Position Specific, and NWCG training and guidance to local cooperators.
  • Oversaw day-to-day operations of staff and equipment, prepared for regional and state-wide response, and related agency mission directives.
  • Responded to local, state, and national incidents, as requested and available, and filled roles in the planning, operations, and command functions.
  • Promoted and prepared Community Wildfire Protection Plans with local, state, and federal stakeholders within the region.
  • Served as the supporting and primary agency representative to support the region's local Emergency Operations Centers, Disaster District Emergency Operations Center, and the State Emergency Operations Center - during activations.

Firefighter/Emergency Medical Technician

United States Forest Service
, Oregon
06.2014 - 11.2014
  • Performed and led operational duties in fire prevention, mitigation, and response.
  • Responsible for creating response and mitigation-related mapping products for fire management plans.
  • Led diverse medical training simulations to prepare teams for emergency medical situations and provided on-site medical support for fire crews, in the operational environment.

English Instructor

Sogang University
Seoul, Korea, Korea
02.2010 - 03.2014
  • Developed a curriculum appropriate to students' learning abilities and that reflected their needs and interests.
  • Assessed student performance and development and devised improvement strategies for business executives.
  • Attended professional development training to improve knowledge and skills.

Firefighter

Department of Interior, US Fish & Wildlife Service
Modesto, California
05.2009 - 10.2009
  • Fire crew member, conditioned, equipped, and qualified to meet a variety of strategic and tactical wildland fire suppression response assignments.
  • Led and implemented wildfire mitigation an ecological restoration projects.
  • Supported stakeholders with GIS analysis and solutions regarding natural resources and fire management planning.

Fire Forester

Washington State University
Spokane, Washington
06.2006 - 05.2009
  • Assessed wildfire mitigation projects for communities at risk and provided project recommendations to stakeholders.
  • Prepared wildland fire mitigation and ecological treatment planning documents for stakeholders, in accordance with federal and state policy and guidance.
  • Established fire effects monitoring for prescribed burn units and post wildfire events.

Fire Fighter/Emergency Medical Responder

Whitman
Pullman, Washington
09.2006 - 04.2009
  • Applied firefighting and ems techniques when responding to emergencies.
  • Operated and maintained operational readiness on firefighting vehicles and equipment.
  • Participated in weekly training drills, meetings, and education.

Firefighter

Washington Department of Natural Resources
Port Angeles, Washington
07.2004 - 08.2008
  • Analyzed technical wildland fire environmental factors to implement appropriate strategy and tactical decision-making for engine crew, within the operational environments.
  • Responsible for directing, supervising, and developing an engine suppression crew.
  • Provided GIS data and mapping for forested units, pre-fire and post-fire treatment.

Education

Master of Science - Public Safety Leadership & Administration

Arizona State University
01.2020

Bachelor of Science - Fire Management (Natural Resources)

Washington State University
Pullman, WA
01.2009

Skills

  • National Incident Management System
  • Complex Incident Management
  • Emergency Management
  • Team Leadership
  • Policy Analysis
  • Technical Writing Proficiency
  • Emergency Services Operations & Planning
  • Strategic Operational Planning
  • Continuity & Contingency Planning

Certification

  • Certified Emergency Manager - IAEM
  • FEMA Training Instructor - Situation Unit Leader - FEMA
  • TDEM Training Instructor - ICS 300 & 400 - TDEM
  • Emergency Medical Technician, Basic - NREMT & DSHS
  • Fire Instructor 1 & 2 - TEEX/Pro Board
  • Planning Section Chief Type 3 - NWCG
  • Situation Unit Leader - NWCG/FEMA
  • Resource Unit Leader - NQS/FEMA
  • Heavy Equipment Boss, Single Resource - NWCG
  • Engine Boss, Single Resource - NWCG
  • Emergency Medical Technician, Fireline - NWCG
  • Medical Unit Leader - NWCG
  • Incident Commander Type 4 - NWCG
  • Strike Team Leader / Task Force - NWCG
  • Command & General Staff - NWCG
  • Type 3 All Hazards Incident Management Team - USFA

Professional Affiliations

  • International Association of Emergency Managers
  • International Public Safety Association
  • All-Hazards Incident Management Teams Association
  • Texas Emergency Response Commission
  • Texas State Management Team
  • Texas Emergency Management Council
  • Texas Fire Chiefs Association
  • Society of American Foresters
  • Association for Fire Ecology
  • State Firefighters' & Fire Marshals' Association

Timeline

Land Management Officer

Travis County
03.2024 - Current

Chief, Emergency Support Function 4

Texas A&M Forest Service
01.2023 - 03.2024

Assistant Chief, SOC

Texas A&M Forest Service
12.2018 - 12.2022

Regional Fire Coordinator

Texas A&M Forest Service
12.2014 - 01.2019

Firefighter/Emergency Medical Technician

United States Forest Service
06.2014 - 11.2014

English Instructor

Sogang University
02.2010 - 03.2014

Firefighter

Department of Interior, US Fish & Wildlife Service
05.2009 - 10.2009

Fire Fighter/Emergency Medical Responder

Whitman
09.2006 - 04.2009

Fire Forester

Washington State University
06.2006 - 05.2009

Firefighter

Washington Department of Natural Resources
07.2004 - 08.2008

Master of Science - Public Safety Leadership & Administration

Arizona State University

Bachelor of Science - Fire Management (Natural Resources)

Washington State University

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