The Team
Who We Are
Michael B. Dunn
Principal Consultant
Michael B. Dunn is a consulting arborist, forester, and wildland firefighter with 30 years of field experience in arboriculture, urban forestry, forest management, ecological restoration, watershed stewardship, GIS, and prescribed fire.
In his primary professional role, Michael serves as Associate Director of Urban Forestry at the Morris Arboretum & Gardens of the University of Pennsylvania, where he leads consulting and applied forestry programs serving municipalities, institutions, and communities throughout the region.
Michael is the founder and Principal Consultant of Brandywine Forest, an independent consulting practice helping municipalities, institutions, conservation organizations, developers, and landowners manage trees, forests, and natural areas. He is also President and Founder of the Goose Creek Alliance, a Pennsylvania Forest Fire Warden, and Superintendent of the DCNR Northern Bucks Wildland Fire Crew.
His work combines arboricultural expertise, ecological silviculture, wildland fire experience, project management, and practical field implementation to create healthier, safer, and more resilient landscapes throughout Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic.
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M.S Fire Ecology and Management University of Idaho(in progress).
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B.S. Environmental Science, Southern New Hampshire University
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B.S Geo Environmental Science, Shippensburg University
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ISA Board Certified Master Arborist #PD-1829BM
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ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist #711
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ISA Certified Arborist Municipal Specialist
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ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified
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ASCA Tree and Plant Appraisal Qualified
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Pennsylvania Forest Fire Warden
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Superintendent, DCNR Northern Bucks Wildland Fire Crew
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Firefighter Type 1/Squad Boss (FFT1)
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Crew Boss, Single Resource Trainee (CRWB(t))
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Firing Boss, Single Resource Trainee (FIRB(t))
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Intermediate Faller (FAL2)
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30 years of field experience
Mark Adams
Prescribed Burn Manager
Mark Adams brings more than 30 years of experience in wildland fire suppression, prescribed fire, fuels management, crew leadership, risk reduction, and public outreach. He currently serves as a Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Specialist with the Flagstaff Fire Department, where he manages prescribed fire and fuels projects on city-owned lands, administers forest-health grants, and advises local leadership on wildfire mitigation and fire restrictions.
Mark previously served as Superintendent of the Flagstaff and Blue Ridge Hotshots and spent nearly two decades with the Mormon Lake and Blue Ridge Hotshots, progressing from crewmember and squad leader to Assistant Superintendent. His qualifications include Division/Group Supervisor, Type 3 Incident Commander, Type 2 Prescribed Fire Burn Boss, Safety Officer, Firing Boss, and Faller C.
Mark and Mike Dunn first worked together on the Mormon Lake Hotshots, building their partnership through demanding fire assignments, prescribed burns, and fuels-management projects across the American West. Years later, they are joining forces again—combining Mark’s extensive operational leadership with Mike’s forestry and ecological management experience to expand safe, science-based prescribed fire management on the East Coast.
Together, they bring the discipline, judgment, and field experience of the hotshot community to the restoration and stewardship of eastern forests, grasslands, and fire-dependent ecosystems.
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Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Specialist
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Former Hotshot Superintendent
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Division/Group Supervisor
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Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3)
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Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2)
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Safety Officer Type 2 (SOF2)
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Firing Boss (FIRB)
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Advanced Faller (FAL1)
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More than 30 years of wildland fire suppression, fire management, and public outreach experience.
Julia Rucko
Project Manager | ISA Certified Arborist
Julia Rucko is an ISA Certified Arborist with nearly a decade of hands-on experience in arboriculture, horticulture, and public-garden tree care. She currently serves as an arborist at Mt. Cuba Center, where her work incorporates ecological principles into the care and long-term stewardship of trees.
As a Project Manager with Brandywine Forest, Julia coordinates field assessments, tree inventories, project data, reporting, and client communication. Her practical knowledge of tree care and plant health helps translate technical findings into clear, site-specific recommendations that can be successfully implemented. Julia is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island and has been an ISA Certified Arborist since 2020.
