Chainsaw Safety Training at Fort Andrew

June 6, 2025

Building Skills, Confidence, & Readiness

At CMI2, we aim to prepare the next generation of innovators and field leaders with hands-on learning opportunities. This summer, our Group 1 IGNITE interns took a step in that direction by completing the Basic Chainsaw Safety and Bucking Workshop, hosted at the CMI2 Adaptive Experimentation Facility at Fort Andrew in Lizmores, West Virginia, on June 3.

Led by skilled professionals from the West Virginia Division of Forestry, this hands-on training introduced our interns to essential chainsaw techniques, field safety protocols, and critical cutting skills—fundamentals that will serve them well as they support operations at one of the nation’s most unique military experimentation facilities.

IGNITE summer interns and West Virginia Division of Forestry instructors gather after completing the Basic Chainsaw Safety and Bucking Workshop at the CMI2 Adaptive Experimentation Facility at Fort Andrew in Lizmores in early June. The training, led by forestry experts, equipped interns with vital field safety and technical skills to support operations at the facility. Image credit: Alyssa Gregg for CMI2.

Real-World Skills for Real-World Impact

Under the guidance of instructors Johnny King, Joe Jelich, Jack Spencer, and Hannah Cooley, the interns spent the day learning how to safely handle, operate, and maintain chainsaws—tools vital for navigating and shaping rugged terrain during fieldwork. The workshop was an immersive experience in skills development, field readiness, and operational effectiveness, from fundamental safety gear checks to advanced bucking methods.

Powered by Partnership

Collaboration is key to supporting the CMI2 internship opportunities.

“The success of this workshop wouldn’t have been possible without our strong partnership with the West Virginia Division of Forestry,” said Walter “Wally” Hatfield, vice president of training and experimentation at CMI2. “We’re grateful for their collaboration and continued support in providing these future leaders with new skills.”

Investing in the Future

The CMI2 IGNITE internship program is designed to build technical, tactical, and interpersonal skills for Clay County high school and college-aged students. The training program with the West Virginia Division of Forestry is just one example of how CMI2 works to prepare interns for the real challenges ahead.

“This is more than a résumé booster for these kids,” Hatfield said. “We are giving them the chance to lead, learn, and contribute meaningfully. By completing this training and embracing the power of hard work, we are growing the next generation of leaders we need.”