Strategic Wildfire Advisor; Former, CAL FIRE Chief Deputy Director
Chris Anthony seeks to connect innovative technologies to the wildfire community to protect lives, communities, ensure resilient landscapes, and end the disastrous impacts of destructive wildfires. He served California as a Governor Appointee overseeing nearly all aspects of CAL FIRE’s Fire Protection, Resource Management, Support, and Administrative functions as the Chief Deputy Director. He was responsible for implementation of strategic initiatives and policies critical to ensuring operational readiness, wildfire resiliency, community preparedness, and deployment of innovative technological advancements into day-to-day operations. During his appointment he worked across numerous internal program areas and with tribal, local, state, federal, non-profit and private entities to ensure efficient implementation of investments made by the Administration and Legislature; investments which led CAL FIRE to exceed 12,000 employees with a budget of over $4B to address the increasing size, severity and scope of wildfire impacts in California. He had the unique opportunity to serve in resource management, fire protection, fire prevention, law enforcement, administration and executive level positions during his 27 years with CAL FIRE. He was the Deputy Task Force Leader for the Governor’s Tree Mortality Task Force, a member of the State Board of Fire Services, coordinated with numerous state agencies and the Administration during emergencies of statewide significance, served on local, state and federal Incident Management Teams in Command and General Staff positions, and responded to major incidents throughout California during his career. He currently consults and advises for firetech companies, academia, philanthropic and non-profit organizations; and sits on the Boards of the Earth Fire Alliance and California Fire Safe Council.
He is a Registered Professional Forester, honorably retired California Peace Officer, and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry from the University of California Berkeley. He also studied Resource Management at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. He currently resides in South Lake Tahoe.
