I grew up in Billings, Montana and planned to be a math teacher. I certainly didn't expect to end up as a fire behavior research scientist. I got a master’s degree in math and computer science. Not many people did coding then. I eventually got a PhD in forestry. I started at the Missoula Fire Sciences Lab in 1973 as a temporary programmer and retired 39 years later as a scientist. My research focus was fire behavior prediction and fire danger rating. Now that I am retired I enjoy textile art. Wildland fire is a favorite subject (of course).