Heath Hooper ’19 wasn’t always sure what career he wanted to pursue. But his path from a broad interest in environmental science to the frontlines of Southern California’s wildfire crisis changed his perspective on his future. “I was never the person who knew exactly what they wanted to do after high school,” Hooper said.
Witnessing tragic wildfires opened Hooper’s eyes to the urgent need for proactive wildfire management and safety measures. The experience inspired him to channel his passion for forestry into a career focused on environmental protection.
At M-A, Hooper was involved in athletics, playing on both the boys basketball and volleyball teams. Outside of sports, he was passionate about music. He played guitar and performed in M-A’s annual Battle of the Bands.
During his senior year, Hooper also joined the M-A Chronicle, where journalism sparked his interest in storytelling and learning more about people from differing communities. “I liked learning about topics and people’s different perspectives on them. Also, the creative aspect just made the class enjoyable,” Hooper said.
Still uncertain about his future, Hooper decided to take AP Environmental Science, a choice that coincided with his growing curiosity about nature. But when the Southern California wildfire hit members of Hooper’s family, causing two to lose their homes, Hooper knew what he wanted to do. “Two of my family members lost their homes, which got me interested in wildfires as a topic,” Hooper explained.
The Woolsey fire of 2018 occurred in the mountains above Malibu, and, driven by dry conditions and fierce winds, rapidly spread across Highway 1, destroying numerous homes along the coast.
Shortly after the fire had ended, Hooper traveled to Southern California to help his family sort through the damages and their remaining items that survived. While there, he crafted a photo essay, driving through the burned neighborhoods to document the devastation.
The aftermath of the fire inspired Hooper to look more into environmental issues, specifically wildfire management. After witnessing firsthand the devastation caused to his own family, he decided to explore a future focused on wildfire prevention and forest management.
Concluding his senior year at M-A, Hooper became deeply invested in studying how the environment affects communities. Wanting to stay close to home for college while pursuing his new interest in environmental management, Hooper decided to attend Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. There, he majored in Forestry and Natural Resources—topics closely related to wildfire protection and prevention. “Cal Poly’s slogan is learn by doing, which is true: you get a lot of hands-on exposure there,” Hooper said.
At Cal Poly, Hooper served as an officer for the Student Association for Fire Ecology (SAFE). Through SAFE, he participated in and helped organize career panels with professionals in the environmental and wildfire industries. Additionally, SAFE held workshops and off-campus field trips to areas that have been impacted by wildfires.
“I coincidentally reached out to my current company and got them to present at one of our meetings, which definitely contributed to me getting to know my current coworkers and probably eventually getting my job,” Hooper said.
Hooper also took various classes relating to fire ecology. In one forest measurement class, he learned how to survey and measure the volume of wood in a specific area. “At Cal Poly I had incredible opportunities to learn about wildfires firsthand,” Hooper said.
Hooper later worked as a research assistant for Cal Poly’s Geospatial Systems lab, dedicated to using geospatial technology to research, discover, and learn more about various environmental topics such as fire behavior.
“It was great to work on multiple projects that allowed me to broaden my skillset working on different kinds of analysis with different kinds of data,” Hooper said. “It built my confidence with presenting and collaborating with people in the industry.”
Concluding his graduation from Cal Poly, Hooper’s research position proved to be critical in his career, helping him secure a connection with the San Luis Obispo Fire Safe Council.
After taking six months to reflect and plan his next steps, Heath returned to San Luis Obispo, where he continued his research work from college. He joined the County of San Luis Obispo’s Emergency Services team, helping to set up systems of evacuation warning and other crucial emergency planning efforts.
Given the county’s proximity to a nuclear power plant, his role allowed him to learn more about the systems put in place to handle a potential disaster.
“It was a unique experience to learn about all the emergency response and evacuation systems in place,” Hooper said.
Now, Hooper works for Auten Resource Consulting as a Forestry consultant, working with large landownerships and communities to help prevent and plan for forest fires while also bolstering climate resilience. “I primarily work on mapping, data management, field surveying and development of planning and permitting documents,” Hooper explained.
Hooper’s advice to current M-A students: “Follow what you’re interested in, but also think about what you’re naturally good at. I think that combining those two things is a good way to figure out a fulfilling career.”
To those interested in a career in environmental management and consulting: “Try and get work experience where you can, whether it be unpaid, or by looking into things that interest you outside of the classroom.”
