Ben Lachman Email & Phone Number

Manton, Michigan, United States

Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States

• Functioned as crew leader • Fell, limbed, and bucked trees to be removed• Rigged trees for removal using porta wrap, speed line, blocks and rigging lines• Operated skidsteers to load large rounds on flatbed wood trucks• Operated 26,000 pound vehicles for hauling chippers, loaders, and wood• Climbed tree utilizing ddrt climbing system and spikes• Operated bucket truck for large removals

Big Cypress National Preserve

• Primary responsibility: preparation and ignition of approved burn units in national preserve• Prepped units for burning utilizing backpack blowers, chainsaws, and brush cutters• Operated UTV for transport of crew members and tools• Utilized pyro shot to create depth in Rx burn operations• Operated swamp buggy and utilized winch • Led detailer in unit prep

Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States

• Worked as a member of a Hotshot hand crew assigned to suppress wildland fires• Functioned as Alpha squad alternative swamper • Performed all aspects of fire line construction activities, including: digging handline to specification, constructing hotline, check line, direct and indirect fire line.• Competent chainsaw operator, including: felling, fire line construction, bucking, limbing, thinning, lop and scatter, swamping, and general saw maintenance. Able to properly size up trees for safe falling and bucking operations, including fire-weakened/hazard trees • Experience in burn out operations using drip torch• Experience in holding and mop-up operations• Recognized, mitigated, and communicated hazards prior to and during tactical operation • Effectively communicated to crewmembers, squad leaders, supervisors and other fire resources both face to face and utilizing hand held radios• Frequently called upon to perform hazardous and strenuous tasks• Performed duties on steep terrain and in forest environment with extremely uneven, rocky, vegetated surfaces. In conditions with extreme temperatures and smoke and dust

Tucson, Arizona, United States

Sawyer on contracted fuel reduction crew in Coronado National Forest. Cutting to reduce high fire intensity.Experience Includes:• Functioned as a Sawyer cutting Pinion, Juniper, Apache Pine, Chihuahuan pine, White Oak and Black Oak• Operated on a saw team falling, bucking, limbing and swamping to meet goals of thinning prescription• Utilized ArcGIS to collect thinning data and to follow prescription • Acted as crew leader during a medical emergency • Repaired and trouble shot Husqvarna chainsaws• Utilized chain grinder to maintain chainsaw falling chain• Removed hazard trees and hang ups• Camped and worked remotely on project site in adverse weather conditions including: extreme heat, snow, high winds, and steep and loose slopes

Winthrop, Wa, United States

Wildland Firefighter crew member on Methow Valley Type 2 IA Handcrew. Functioned as Sawyer on saw team. Experience Includes: • Worked as a member of a 20 person Type 2IA hand crew assigned to suppress wildland fires• Served as sawyer of saw team on both initial attack and extended attack wildland fires• Competent chainsaw operator, including: felling, fireline construction, bucking, limbing, thinning, lop and scatter, swamping, and general saw maintenance. Able to properly size up trees for safe falling and bucking operations, including fire-weakened/hazard trees • Proficient with portable water pump operations, including working knowledge of drafting, adjusting water pressure, pump placement, and setup• Familiar with basic water handling equipment, including: simple and progressive hoselays, nozzles, and hardware• Experience participating in fireline construction activities, including: digging handline to specification, constructing hotline, check line, direct and indirect fireline, using pulaskis, shovels, mcleods, rakes, and backpack blowers• Experience in burn out operations using drip torch• Experience in holding and mop-up operations• Performed project work such as hazardous fuel reduction thinning, including preparation and execution of landscape and pile burning• Recognized, mitigated, and communicated hazards prior to and during tactical operation. Led and participated in after action reviews• Effectively communicated to crewmembers, squad leaders, supervisors and other fire resources both face to face and utilizing hand held radios• Frequently called upon to perform hazardous and strenuous tasks• Performed duties on steep terrain and in forest environment with extremely uneven, rocky, vegetated surfaces. In conditions with extreme temperatures and smoke and dust

Brunswick, Georgia, United States

Crew member of DNR Coastal burn crew. Facilitated prescribed fire on landscapes to manage healthy wildlife habitat. • Worked on a multi-person crew focusing on prescribed burning, firebreak construction, fuel reduction, burn operations, and monitoring• Burned to promote diversity in understory vegetation to better suit game species• Monitored and recorded data on the success of long leaf pines • Participates in fire and safety training in the techniques, practices, and methods of fire suppression and in the safe, efficient operation and use of tools, equipment and vehicles used in fire line activities• Performed assignments as a wildland firefighter in developing a working knowledge of fire suppression and fuels management techniques, practices and terminology• Construct fire line using various hand tools such as axes, shovels, Pulaski’s, Mcleods as well as power tools including backpack blower and chainsaws• Patrol fire line to locate and extinguish embers, flare-ups, and hotspot fires• Perform backfires and burnouts ¬• Participated in habitat enhancement for game species and exotic and invasive species management

Winthrop, Wa

Performed all duties equivalent to a GS-04 Wilderness Ranger• Backpacked with personal gear and food, personal protection equipment, and tools for long distances (5-20 miles/day) and steep elevation changes (2000-5000 vertical feet a day)• Lived and worked independently while performing arduous physical tasks in harsh wilderness areas for 8-day hitches• Backpacked and horse packed to patrol wilderness, checked campers for compliance with wilderness and backcountry regulations, cleaned campsites, restored camping areas, destroyed fire rings and naturalize social trails • Used crosscut saws, chainsaws (Stihl 044, 461, and 462 with 32-inch bar), axes, pick mattocks, shovels and other tools to maintain trail tread, clear and install water bars, build retaining walls, brush and log out trail, and clear rock slides• Utilized pack stock to support wilderness and trails crew. Cared for pack and saddle stock• Public education and outreach including oral presentations, educating recreationist on tread lightly, leave-no-trace, proper backcountry use ethics, wilderness and backcountry regulation, and regulations concerning fire prevention and safety to individuals or groups while promoting cooperation and understanding of public lands• Implemented current NEPA and Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC) process. • Initiated public contacts in the field to enhance the user's wilderness experience and protect the wilderness resource through dispersal of information• Enforced wilderness regulations with the assistance of an LEO • Provided liaison with members of the public in a friendly and non-confrontational manner, while representing the USFS. Participated in special projects such as hunter education and youth camp LNT education to achieve district recreation program goals • Monitored and collected data on trail conditions. Provided trail reports on access due to snow depths, maintenance condition (trees down, washouts, needed drainage, etc.) to public recreators

Flagstaff, Arizona Area

• Engaged in multiple facets of conservation including applying herbicide, rock work, trail maintenance, fencing, and fuel reduction• Worked for eight day hitches in the backcountry executing team oriented projects • Worked with a diverse range of crewmembers in 8-person crews• Instructed and partnered with other crewmembers on felling techniques, rock work construction methods, and grip hoist and rock drill operations• Fuel reduction projects and experience includes, felling trees using Husqvarna 365 Chainsaw, wedges, and pounder as an A level Sawyer • Limbed and bucked felled trees, swamped limbed and bucked material and created burn piles• Performed general maintenance of saw in the field including tacking, troubleshooting, and sharpening chains• Shop cleaned chainsaws• Rock work experience includes: hiking heavy equipment to work site, using a Griphoist with directionals, 2:1 blocks and rock bars to harvest, move, and set large rocks, splitting rocks using a slab splitter and double jack, rock drill and generator, and wedges and feathers, shaping rocks using vertical and horizontal shaping hammers, chisels, and single jacks, measuring rise and run and calculating check step height and pad length, digging holes using pick mattock, spade shovels, and hand picks, creating crush using single jacks and double jacks, identifying, harvesting, and installing capstones and liners, naturalized slopes and work site by transplanting vegetation • Trail maintenance experience includes brushing trials to an eight-foot by ten-foot corridor using loppers, hand saws, cutter mattocks, and pole saws, digging drains on trial tread using pick mattock and spade shovel and McLeod, de-rocking trail of large rocks, installing natural and treated water bars using harvested material, pick mattock, spade shovel, and McLeod

Holland, Mi

• Performed general maintenance and upkeep of a private families’ fleet of sailboats and sport yachts• De-winterizing boats from storage• Worked with Captains and crew mates to launch boats with travel lift and trailers• Towed boats up to 35 feet in length with Ford F350• Rigged and stepped masts of sailboats using guidelines and forklift• Worked as crew member for transportation and delivery of boats around the Great Lake region with private guests aboard• Operated a 30 and 35-foot rigid inflatable Protector, Alerion 28 sailboat, and 75 foot Lazzara Sport Yacht• Fueled and pumped out sport yachts and powerboats • Washed decks and hull sides, waxed stainless, scrubbed teak • Cleaned seas strainers and operated water maker during deliveries • Transported and delivered vessels up to 300 nautical miles around the Great Lakes Region • Obtained U.S. Coast Guard boater safety permit

South Haven, Michigan

• Constructed and taught lesson plans to a diverse group of students ranging from youth to adults• Maintained sails, boats, boards, and other equipment pertinent to the day to day operations of the sailing school• Maintained and operated instructor powerboats: 14-foot Boston Whaler and a 15-foot Rigid Inflatable Mercury• Maintained and operated sailboats: Optimist International Dingy, Pico Laser Dingy, Baja Laser Dingy, J/24 J/Boat, and J/80 J/Boat • Supervised and instructed students via powerboat on Lake Michigan• Managed other sailing instructors and interns and communicated with instructors and marine vessels via VHF radio• Assessed and kept watch of the weather daily to ensure safe sailing conditions for students• Kept records of daily activities, accidents, and successes • Trailered and launched instructor power boat for weekly regattas• Certified U.S. Sailing Level 1 Instructor

Benton Harbor, Michigan Area

• Engaged in all aspects of sustainable food production both indoors in hoops houses and outdoors on raised beds including: planning and ordering seeds, infrastructure maintenance and construction, soil building and construction of raised beds using shovels, pitch forks, stirrup hoes, and broad forks, seeding by hand and using hand push seeder, harvesting and processing produce• Directed a diverse range of volunteers on-site at the farm several times a week.• Helped facilitate the weekly on-campus farmer’s market as well as prepare fruit and vegetable shares for the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program