Vita Wright, Science Application Specialist, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula Fire Sciences Lab, Innovation & Organizational Learning Unit vita.wright@usda.gov.

With a passion for integrating science and management, Vita has worked as a Science Application Specialist since 1998. From 1998-2007, she developed and led the Research Application Program at the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute. Since 2007, she has focused on fire science application, and since 2010, she has led the development of the Northern Rockies Fire Science Network. For her M.S., she conducted a multi-scale analysis of Flammulated Owl habitat use. For her Ph.D., she researched influences on fire research use in the BLM, NPS, and USFS. She continues to both research and apply best practices in supporting fire science-management integration. Earlier in her career, Vita worked as a USFS Interdisciplinary Team Wildlife Biologist and a Research Assistant for USGS climate research in Glacier NP. Vita is married to a long-term seasonal ranger in Glacier NP. Their older son works trails in the Bob Marshall Wilderness and their younger son is passionate about computer science. Their dog was born on the Eastside and loves digging for rodents!