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Tyre Holfeltz | Andrew Giralt | Joshua Granger
Tyre Holfeltz
Tyre began his wildland fire carrier in 1995 with Salt Lake County Fire. In 2004 he obtained a masters’ degree in Natural Resource Economics from Washington State University with emphasis in wildland fire. He worked for nearly nine years as the State of Utah, Division of Forestry Fire & State Lands, National Fire Plan & Prevention Coordinator, before taking a job as the Wildfire Risk Mitigation Program Manager, in 2014, with Idaho Department of Lands (IDL). In his job with IDL he regularly interacts with groups, organizations and agencies to restore and enhance the resilience of landscapes that communities call home. A major component of his job is participating in and supporting planning at the local, regional, state and national level—which he regularly facilitates. Highlighting his efforts, in 2025 Tyre was awarded the National Fire Protection Association “Wildfire Mitigation Award’ for his contributions supporting community preparedness planning. As a strong proponent of collaboration Tyre believes that we all should have an interest in our surrounding natural environment and neighbors. To this end he helped to create, and still is actively involved with, the Shared Stewardship and Good Neighbor Authority programs in Idaho. No stranger to wildfire response, Tyre maintains a variety of wildfire qualifications that keep him busy during the “fire season”. When not engaged in the “fire” cause he enjoys coaching his son in soccer, hunting birds behind his Chesapeake Bay retriever, skiing, working in his overly large garden, and fly or ice fishing wherever a fish may be found. A proud father of three boys—Ernal, Wyatt and Jackson. He currently resides with his wife (Sheila) of 26 years and youngest son (Jackson) in the Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho area.
Andrew Giralt
Andrew Giralt's career blends hands-on field experience with educational and professional development. An associate's degree in fire science in Casper, Wyoming, opened the door to his career; starting with volunteer work and internships at local fire departments, then a position with the USDA Forest Service on the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. Those early years gave him a lasting foundation in environmental management and a deep commitment to stewardship of the land.
His career eventually led him to Arizona, where he traveled and saw the landscapes and management of the West firsthand. While working full fire seasons, he completed both his Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science and his Master's in Public Administration.
It was in Arizona that Andrew met his wife, Emily, originally from Norfolk, Nebraska. Winters spent visiting her families’ cattle ranches in central Nebraska sparked a real curiosity about the state. After marrying, the couple started a family of four kids, and when a Fire Lead position opened with the Nebraska Forest Service, they decided together to make the move.
Since then, working with the Nebraska Forest Service has been a genuinely positive experience for Andrew, and he sees the opportunity to serve as State Forester as a natural next step; one that builds on the foundation he's worked hard to establish in the state he and his family now call home.
Joshua J. Granger, Ph.D.
Joshua J. Granger is an Associate Professor of Forestry and Forest Supervisor at Mississippi State University, where his work integrates forestry research, teaching, natural resource management, and organizational leadership. As Forest Supervisor, he provides administrative and strategic leadership for more than 40,000 acres of university-owned teaching and research forests, supporting forest management, research, education, and partnerships with state, federal, nonprofit, and private-sector organizations.
A Nebraska native, Granger has built his career around the land-grant mission and the application of science to the stewardship of forests and natural resources. His research and professional interests include silviculture, forest restoration, forest health and resilience, and the management of working forest landscapes. He also has extensive experience in faculty and student mentoring, interdisciplinary collaboration, and leadership development.
Granger is a Mississippi Registered Forester, Society of American Foresters Candidate Certified Forester, and ISA Certified Arborist and has held leadership roles in numerous forestry, natural resource, and professional organizations.