Melanie Schmidt

Melanie Schmidt serves as a Trainer for TREX and is a Prescribed Fire Module Leader with The Nature Conservancy’s North America Fire Program. An Iowa native, Melanie has dedicated her career to the conservation and stewardship of the Midwest’s tallgrass prairies and has more than 15 years of prescribed fire experience. Since 2016, she has served as a wildland firefighter, representing the Iowa Department of Natural Resources on both hand crews and engine crews across the United States. In her current role, she leads prescribed fire operations, supports fire training initiatives, and works with partners across North America to expand the use of beneficial fire on the landscape. Since 2023, Melanie has implemented prescribed burns in 11 states and Canada while fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and capacity building among fire practitioners. She has also played a key role in organizing Iowa’s Cooperative Burn Week and co-developing Trailblazers Academy, an all-women's fire training program. As a leader and mentor, Melanie is passionate about empowering the next generation of fire practitioners and advancing the safe and effective use of prescribed fire for prairie conservation.