Jay Stalnacker

Jay Stalnacker

Technical Lead, XPRIZE Wildfire

Jay Stalnacker has 25 years of experience providing government and private industry health, safety, disaster, and emergency management services.

His experience in emergency and disaster management includes serving as Operations Branch Director for the Pacific Northwest Federal Type 1 Incident Management Team (PNW2). PNW2 is one of the only eight federal teams that respond across the world for complex disaster management. Mr. Stalnacker previously served in non-military government special operations and a member of the elite Federal Smokejumper Program and have served as a commissioned SWAT police officer.  

Mr. Stalnacker has served as incident commander and operations chief on numerous emergency and disaster incidents across the nation including 2014 Boulder, Colorado 1000 year-flood disaster, 2017 State of Oregon Eclipse Emergency Response Event and more recently the 2018 Hurricane Michael natural disaster. He also served as a Colorado State Senate appointed investigative subject matter expert for the tragic North Fork Wildfire fatality investigation. 

Mr. Stalnacker has received two Silver Star medals, one Bronze Star medal and one Medal of Commendation for life saving actions and has been recognized for distinguished service by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Secret Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States Department of Agriculture, the State of Colorado and State of Oregon Emergency Management Offices. 

Mr. Stalnacker holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership from Colorado State University. He is a certified health and safety trainer in numerous professional disciplines and considered a subject matter expert for disaster incident management and investigation. He is married to his wife, Kim, for 20 years (High School Sweethearts). Their daughter Aspen is a freshman at the University of Colorado, Boulder.  

Mr. Stalnacker founded the non-profit Warriors on the River (WORFISH.org) to help first responders facing PTSD. He is passionate about the outdoors, enjoying mountain biking, snowboarding, alpine climbing, and fly-fishing.