1. BLM OR & WA State Office, USFS Regional Offices 6 & 10 (SORO) Interagency Fire, Fuels, and Aviation Management Program
Updated:
February 2018

2. Intent of Presentation
Communicate the background and current status of the BLM State Office and USFS Regional Office (SORO) Fire, Fuels, and Aviation pilot.

3. Background
1995: BLM OR & WA and USFS Region 6 (R6) Fire, Fuels and Aviation Management was integrated as a single Service First organization.
The combined SORO fire organization streamlined management oversight and increased program efficiencies.

4. Background
2008: USFS Region 10 (R10) Fire and Fuels group combined administratively with USFS R6 and joined the SORO organization.
2010: USFS R10 Aviation Group joined SORO.

5. Background
2012: BLM OR/WA and USFS R6 Executives requested a review of the SORO organization based upon:
Two key agency leaders retired.
SORO had several vacancies.
Budgets were declining.
Service First Authority was passed.
A need to communicate clear and consistent direction to the field.

6. 2012 Decision “Mission over Agency”
SORO would be managed by two agency leaders:
The BLM Branch Chief for Fire and Aviation
The USFS Director of Fire, Fuels and Aviation
The organization and supervision of SORO is defined by the over-arching philosophy:
“Mission over Agency”

7. 2013 - Present SORO Organization
The SORO dual-agency leadership model has moved to five functional areas:
Aviation
Business
Operations
Fire Integration
Safety (aviation and ground)

8. 2014 – SORO Organization BLM OR & WA State Fire Management Officer
USFS R6 & 10
Fire Director
Asst. Director
Fire
Integration
Asst. Directors
Safety
Ground &
Aviation
Asst. Director
Business
Asst. Director
Operations
Asst. Director
Aviation

9. SORO Purpose:
Integrate Fire, Fuels & Aviation Leadership, Management and Services into BLM & FS programs for WA/OR (BLM) and Region 6 & 10 (FS).

10. 2016 – SORO Program Review
Service First Executives requested an evaluation of the effectiveness and efficiency of the Service First SORO organization. The purpose of the review is to maintain and enhance the Service First Organization, and provide a basis for developing strategies to meet the challenges of a Service First Organization. Several themes of commendations, recommendations and opportunities were identified.
2018 SORO Pilot Program

12. 2018 – SORO Pilot USFS R6 & 10, BLM OR/WA Fire Director
Asst. Director
Operations
Aviation
Business
Fire
Integration
Asst. Directors
Safety
Ground &
USFS R6 & 10, BLM OR/WA
Fire Director
Deputy Fire Director

13. SORO Fire and Aviation Leadership Team Priorities
Business
Operations
Fire Integration
Safety
Planning & Policy
Program Support
Workforce Mgmt.
Natural Resource Integration
Contractor Fatality Assessment
Aviation Training
Contract Resources
Training
Ecology
EMS Program
Pilots
Trespass Program
NWCC - Dispatching
Air Quality/Smoke Mgmt.
HRO
Avionics
Correspondences
Incident Mgmt.
Land Mgmt. Planning
Risk Management
Maintenance
Information/Technology/Data
COOP
Fuels $ and Accomplishments
Process for IWP/FLA  cross over
Aviation Operations
Fire and Aviation Contract Team
Rappellers
Restoration/CFLRAs
Short Haul Program
Helicopters
Incident Business
Smoke Jumpers
Prescribed Burning
Quality Assurance Reviews
Fixed-wing
Telework
Type I Handcrews - IHC
Monitoring Program
Safety Communication Plan
Airtankers
Future Service First Strategies
Engines/Crews
Coordination with Wilderness
CISM
Cooperators
Cultural Transformation
IMTs including NIMO
Biomass Coordination
Peer Support
Aircraft/Pilot Inspections
Budget – Pre-suppression
Leadership Program
Stewardship Program
Single Engine Airtankers
Grants and Agreements
National Response Plan/ESF4
Long Term Assessment Teams
Contract Aircraft
Personnel
Radios
Cohesive Strategy
Air Frequencies
Delegation of Authorities
Severity
Climate Change
FEPP – Aviation Assets
Flame Act
Fleet
WFDSS
WCF Program
FOIA and Litigation
Fire Equipment
Unit Initial Attack Model
Aerial Supervision
Civil Rights
Facilities
Fire Analysis
Aviation Business
Cell Phones
FEPP – Non-Aviation
Prevention / Mit & Ed
ODF Contract
Community Assistance
Coop Fire/State Coordination
Fire Trespass