Christine Fejeran

Christine Fejeran Forestry Chief, Wildland Fire Investigator Forestry and Soil Resources Division Department of Agriculture

Christine Camacho Fejeran was raised on family property in Yigo and received her bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University in Wildlife & Fisheries Science with a minor in Environmental Resource Management. She is currently enrolled in the Master of Public Administration program at the University of Guam and was certified as a Wildland Fire Investigator, March 2020. Christine recently accepted the position of Forestry and Soil Resources Division Chief for the Guam Department of Agriculture and was the Acting Chief since February 29, 2020.

Christine’s previous work experience included that of a wildlife biologist in Hawaii monitoring endangered waterbird breeding and non-breeding seasons. Upon leaving Hawaii, Christine moved to Beaufort, South Carolina where she was a Deputy Sheriff for the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.

Christine graduated from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy and was a deputy up until returning home to Guam in 2011. As a Sheriff’s Deputy, Christine responded to a variety of call types immersing her in all aspects of community; the good, bad and the ugly. The rewards were great. Christine learned what it took to communicate with individuals coming from all walks of life, and found communication and respect to the be the common links to success regardless of where one came from. She was proud to be a law enforcement officer. Christine also responded to numerous animal control calls and was responsible for successfully prosecuting cruelty cases brought to court. Upon returning to Guam, Christine served as a Board Member for the Guam Animals in Need (GAIN) for half a term. She is currently an active community member who continues to support environmental outreach and a huge supporter of spay/neuter programs.

Christine has been employed by the Government of Guam for nine years and continues to take pride and joy in her work and her colleagues. Christine’s Government of Guam resume includes being a Watershed Coordinator and Planner III for the Bureau of Statistics and Plans, Guam Coastal Management Program (BSP-GCMP). In 2014, Christine received the Guam Fire Department’s “Citizens Award for Exceptional Service” for her coordinated efforts and support for the Fire Department and fire awareness efforts within the community. Christine was also awarded a “Leadership Award” by the Western Pacific Islands Association of Fire Chiefs in 2019. Christine recognizes that awards and honors would not have been possible if not for her work and support of her team and various partners. It has been a privilege for Christine to proudly represent the Government of Guam, natural resource agencies and partners in their combined commitment to the community and protection of our island’s natural resources through effective outreach. Fostering community awareness, natural resource stewards, and a community proud to call Guam home, have been Christine’s driving goals.

As the Acting Forestry and Soil Resources Division Chief for the Department of Agriculture, Christine charged forward through the onset of COVID-19 making leadership and management decisions to ensure the safety of her team, community, and natural resources. In addition to Christine’s Acting Chief capacity,

she is responsible for managing Forestry’s Cooperative Fire Protection Program (wildland fire program) – “Munga masongge Guåhan, Don’t burn Guam!” Christine’s efforts to enhance and augment Forestry’s outreach presence, includes working toward building a more aware and fire-wise community for Guam. In her role as Forestry’s Cooperative Fire Program Manager, she supervised and provided technical assistance for the first place-based fire curriculum developed for Guam and Micronesia. She worked closely with GDOE teachers who developed the curriculum for students K – 12th grade. The curriculum will provide educators and students with place-based education focused on wildfire and wildfire effects across the islands. Through Christine’s innovative and ever-evolving ideas, wildfire prevention and education grew beyond the platform of the VHS and classroom presentations. The new approaches used by Guam Forestry for outreach and education engages teachers and students across GDOE, private schools and the homeschool community of Guam with outdoor classroom experiences. Most program managers would stop there, but Christine saw more opportunities for innovation and creativity. With the collaborative efforts of AmeriCorps Guam members and the Serve Guam Commission, Christine’s efforts included the launching of a smart application called ‘Agents of Discovery,’ a virtual tour through one of Guam’s iconic urban parks to bring community members and tourists to our shared green spaces. To further augment outreach efforts, Christine’s efforts included the launching of Guam’s first, ‘Smokey Bear Education and Outreach Mobile.’ The trailer is a box trailer retrofitted to carry games, lessons, and sensory activities focused on Guam’s forestry and natural resources. Essentially bringing forestry lessons to you, the community.

The first week of March 2020, right before the COVID-19 Government shutdown, Christine wrapped up Guam’s first international Wildfire Investigation Training and Workshop. Christine’s planning and coordination efforts resulted in the successful completion and graduation of 28 students from the Guam Fire Department, Navy and Air Force Fire Departments, the Guam Police Department, the Guam Department of Agriculture Law Enforcement Section and Forestry Division. A proud moment at the onset of the training was advising participants that they were not only being taught by a cadre from Australia and Canada, but by the very authors of the textbooks used to train all wildland fire investigators across both national and international waters.

Christine recognizes that her successes are greatly attributed to her supportive husband, Eric C. Fejeran, her family and outstanding team. Christine believes that as a servant of the community, it is our duty to move forward with integrity, respect, and honor, to ensure we provide the very best for our people and island.