Renae receiving the Paul Gleason “Lead By Example” award in 2023
Critical Incident Preparedness & Response Advisor
Renae Crippen
Renae Crippen’s career spans more than four decades of fire service, emergency coordination, casualty assistance, education, and peer support. Beginning as a wildland firefighter at age 16, Renae served on engine and helitack crews before moving into dispatch and interagency leadership. She ultimately became Center Manager of a high-complexity dispatch center coordinating five agencies across more than eight million acres. Her experience is also deeply personal. Renae has been married for more than 35 years to a wildland firefighter who served as a Hotshot Crew Superintendent and later retired from his role as a Fire Management Officer. Together, these experiences have given her a uniquely grounded understanding of both the operational realities of fire service and the demands carried by the families who live within it.
Renae became a leading advocate for stronger preparation and support following serious employee injury or death after witnessing firsthand how difficult these events can be for firefighters, families, coworkers, and agency leaders. She was instrumental in the development of the U.S. Forest Service Casualty Assistance Program, serving as Casualty Assistance Program Regional Coordinator for the Pacific Northwest Region and later as a Casualty Assistance Specialist at the Washington Office level.
Her work has included helping develop and deliver national programs such as You Will Not Stand Alone and Hospital and Family Liaison Training, as well as Peer Support Training and critical incident response planning. Across line-of-duty deaths, serious injuries, suicides, illness, natural deaths, and other significant events, Renae has helped agencies prepare for circumstances no organization wants to face. Her particular strength lies in seeing the whole picture, identifying what may be missing, and helping people create practical, ethical, and compassionate responses even when resources are limited and circumstances are complex.
Known for her steady presence and thoughtful delivery, Renae has an exceptional ability to bring together seemingly disconnected pieces and help others understand what matters most. She remains calm under pressure, organizes complexity without losing sight of the people involved, and brings warmth, dry humor, creativity, and fierce advocacy for those closest to the work. She is equally at home supporting an individual peer, advising agency leadership, developing a national-level response plan, or presenting to a room full of professionals.
Renae and Anne Kellogg have taught together nationally for more than a decade, collaborating in casualty assistance, family liaison support, critical incident response, peer support, and resilience education. Within CTRN and Chiron Center, Renae contributes through direct peer support, education, consultation, speaking, and critical incident preparedness.
Outside of her professional work, Renae and her family remain closely connected to the land and outdoor life of Eastern Oregon. Renae enjoys time with her horses and dogs, camping, and creating stained and fused glass. Her creativity, practicality, and quiet attentiveness reflect the same qualities she brings to her work: steadiness, craftsmanship, compassion, and care.