Stephen Oakley is a firefighter/paramedic with over a decade of experience in the fire service. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Wildfire Science from California State University, San Marcos, in 2022 and a Master of Science in Environmental Sciences from Oregon State University in 2026. His work focuses on wildfire risk, land-use planning, and the intersection of climate-driven hazards and social vulnerability. His graduate research examined environmental inequalities of wildfire exposure in Santa Cruz County, California, highlighting how housing affordability and policy decisions shape disproportionate risk in the wildland-urban interface. Combining field experience with research, Stephen is particularly interested in advancing equitable wildfire mitigation strategies, strengthening community resilience, and contributing to fire management efforts both domestically and internationally.
