Casey Cusick GIS Specialist & ISN Project Coordinator (AITRC)
Drone Pilot (FAA Part 107)
Degrees in Wildlife Biology/Geography
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About Me
Career Foundations
Before transitioning into GIS and environmental work, I spent nearly two decades in the hospitality industry—primarily as a bartender, with my final five years serving as a Bar Supervisor. In that role, I managed daily operations, including staff oversight, inventory control, ordering and receiving, and vendor coordination—all while bartending full-time during high-volume shifts.
This experience honed my ability to think quickly under pressure, lead diverse teams, and maintain exceptional attention to detail. These foundational skills first supported a successful career in Integrated Wildlife Management and continue to guide my work in GIS, where I now manage complex projects, collaborate across departments, and thrive in both field and office environments.
Professional Focus
After graduating Summa Cum Laude from Texas State University in 2018 with a double major in Wildlife Biology and Geography, I worked in Urban Wildlife Management before altering my career path to Geographic Information Systems (GIS). I am currently employed at Ahtna Intertribal Resource Commission (AITRC) in Glennallen, Alaska.
I am the resident GIS Specialist, Drone Pilot, and Indigenous Sentinels Network (ISN) Project Coordinator. For my ISN duties, I am responsible for coordinating mobile applications design and development, as well as working with other ISN communities around the state to bring awareness to Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and promote the need for community data collection in extremely rural areas.
Technical Skills
GIS & Spatial Analysis
Proficient with ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online (AGOL), and QGIS, with extensive experience using web mapping tools including Experience Builder, StoryMaps, and Dashboards. Skilled in cartography, terrain and stream network analysis, machine learning-assisted feature extraction, and raster processing for ecological modeling using covariates such as NDVI, LAI, and TRI.
Programming & Automation
Skilled in Python scripting (AI-assisted workflows in Jupyter Notebooks - Anaconda environment), Arcade for smart map expressions, and SQL for spatial data queries and management.
Field & Remote Data Collection
Develop custom Survey123 forms and workflows for field data collection, community monitoring, and multi-feature mapping. Comfortable with GPS-based mobile mapping using Field Maps and QuickCapture in remote environments.
Drone Mapping & Post-Processing
FAA Part 107 Certified Drone Pilot with field experience using the Autel EVO II Series V3. Currently learning Pix4D for post-processing, orthomosaic generation, and terrain-informed analysis.
Data Visualization & Communication
Strong background in creating print and web maps to support NEPA advocacy, public comment efforts, and stakeholder engagement. Communicate GIS outputs clearly to both technical teams and general audiences.
The Ahtna Territory - AITRC
Ownership in the Ahtna Territory
The Ahtna Traditional-Use Territory spans approximately 27 million acres—roughly the size of the state of Ohio. This map highlights the various landowners and managers within the region. Today, about 5,000 people reside within Ahtna Territory. The Ahtna Territory includes the entire Copper River Basin and is bordered by four major mountain ranges: the Wrangell Mountains to the east, the Chugach Mountains to the south, the Alaska Range to the north, and the Talkeetna Mountains to the west. Portions of the Susitna, Matanuska, and Yukon River watersheds also lie within the territory.
Key federal landholders include the National Park Service, with Denali National Park and Preserve to the west and Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve to the east. The Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service) appears in purple in the northeast, while the Chugach National Forest (U.S. Forest Service) is shown in brown in the south.
In addition to these federal lands, the region includes extensive Bureau of Land Management (BLM) holdings (shown in yellow and navy blue, the latter representing State-Selected lands), many of which are currently under review through the ANCSA §17(d)(1) withdrawal classification process. State of Alaska lands (shown in light blue) are also widespread, encompassing areas under state jurisdiction for wildlife management, land sales, and public access.
The map also depicts lands conveyed to or selected by ANCSA entities, including Ahtna, Inc., Chitina Native Corporation, and other regional and village corporations. These lands reflect the complex mosaic of ownership resulting from the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) and remain critical to cultural, economic, and subsistence practices across the territory.