Experience

Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue

• United States
• Emergency and Relief Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• FIRE CHIEF

  • Jan 1980 - Present

  Led 722 Fire/Rescue employees and managed a $113MM operating budget in support of fire and rescue system-wide initiatives for the Department of Fire and Rescue and 8-volunteer departments. Chief Fire Officer Designation from the Commission on Chief Fire Officer Designation Recipient National Capital Region Homeland Security Executive Committee Alternate Member Chairman, International Association of Fire Chiefs Terrorism and Homeland Security Committee Member of IAFC Economic Crisis Task Group Assisting Fire Chiefs Throughout USA During The Great Recession 2009+2012 IAFC Health Safety and Survival Section Fire Service Executive Safety Award ➤ Restructured fire and rescue department, increasing service coverage 20% through firefighter work schedule change to identify and eliminate county fire service and EMS gaps. Created EMS cost recovery billing program for $6MM/yr. revenue source. ➤ Headed Fire Service and Law Enforcement Homeland Security delegations to Paris France. ➤ Enhanced Health and Safety program, resulting in reduction of pain and suffering and $1MM+ p.a. in medical/overtime costs. ➤ Conducted 2 internal Line of Duty Death investigations and implemented recommendations resulting in firefighter and citizen safety improvements at the local, state, and national levels. ➤ Within 2-years the county Witnessed Cardiac Arrest Survival rate improved from 9% to 37% with an investment of approximately $50K and no new staffing. ➤ The fire department Personnel Office and Recruit School infrastructure was maintained throughout the recession/recovery and the pre-recession 5-year staffing plan was restructured and adopted within 2-fiscal years. ➤ My fiscal management skills were recognized within the National Fire Service and led to my serving on the International Association of Fire Chiefs Economic Crisis Task Force to aid fire chiefs across the nation handle the economic crisis. Show less



Prince William County, Virginia - Department of Fire and Rescue

• BATTALION CHIEF - CHIEF 1991 - 2019

  • 1991 - 2019

  ➤ Member, development committee for NFPA 450 Guide for Emergency Medical Services and Systems. ➤ Extensive strategic planning experience, exemplified by development of Public Safety, Homeland Security, and Economic Development goal sections of the Prince William County Strategic Plan. ➤ Managed numerous fire station, public safety training center and mission-critical technology Capital Improvement Program (CIP) initiatives, from budget development through project completion and evaluation. ➤ Conducted numerous county and regional fire and rescue system strategic plans. Show less

• LT - CAPTAIN - CHIEF

  • 1984 - 2019

  ➤ Lecture and present work sessions at fire, EMS, Emergency Management and local government conferences on contemporary management and leadership topics. Extensive exercise design experience as exercise designer, controller and evaluator. ➤ Chaired a regional subcommittee to develop the Washington Metropolitan COG Fire and Police Mutual Aid Plan, EMS Annex and later served a leadership role to revise the COG Incident Command System and reorganize the COG Fire Chiefs Committee.➤ Developed and implemented fire suppression, hazardous materials, and specialized rescue standard operating procedures and EMS patient care protocols. ➤ Responded to multiple presidentially declared disasters (including the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attack on the Pentagon, anthrax attacks and deployed to New Orleans LA after Hurricane Katrina). ➤ Extensive experience in the development and use of performance measures for the management of a local government agency using the Results Oriented Budgeting System. TECHNICIAN I AND II, Firefighter/Advanced Life Support Provider 1980 – 1984 Show less

• ASSISTANT CHIEF, OPERATIONS DIVISION AND COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION (1998-2007)

  • 1998 - 2007

  OPERATIONS ASSISTANT CHIEF - Led the department’s emergency response services. 2003 Virginia Governor’s Outstanding EMS Agency AwardLed regional process to create single Incident Command System (ICS) for the National Capital Region prior to the 9-11 attack. The ICS was recognized as a strength in the Pentagon After Action Report.➤ Served as a member of the Northern Virginia Local Government Team to reconstitute and support the New Orleans LA Emergency Operations Center in the response phase of Hurricane Katrina. ➤ Conducted an Appreciative Inquiry process to identify organizational values/new initiatives to build on department strengths.➤ Actively participated in the development of regional terrorism preparedness initiatives for the National Capital Area through the Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments (COG). ➤ Developed a Type I Hazardous Material Team, the swift water and river rescue programs, and created a battalion training program.COMMUNITY SAFETY ASSISTANT CHIEFWashington, DCServed as Prince William County Fire Marshal responsible for Fire Prevention Code, Fire/Arson investigation, and fire protection system plans’ review and inspections. Managed fire and EMS training staff and public safety training center, managed the department’s administrative services.➤ Led continuity of county government and continuity of operations planning process and exercises.➤ Developed Prince William County Homeland Security plans and upgraded capacity to respond to the threat of terrorism. ➤Contributed to the development of County Government submission of the Senate Productivity and Quality Award submission.➤ Improved new development plans review from 90% rejection to 90% approval, and review from 12-weeks to under 30 days. ➤ Reduced County false fire alarms by 82%, developed the Potomac River Rescue and Swift Water Rescue Programs, and updated and enhanced the county’s Emergency Operations Plan. Show less

• BATTALION CHIEF, OPERATIONS DIVISION AND OFFICE OF THE CHIEF (1991-1998)

  • 1991 - 1998

  ➤ Developed a Geographic Information System for Fire - EMS - Emergency Management. ➤ Fire and Rescue Public Information Officer.➤ Member of Guiding Public Service County Government team addressing how county staff can advance concerning the county’s mission, vision, values and leadership philosophy. ➤ Upgraded the Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, the Public Safety Radio Communications System, E9-1-1 phone system and implementing the fire and rescue mobile data system. ➤ Led development of Fire and Rescue Chapter of County Comprehensive Plan that created standards of performance. Show less

• LIEUTENANT AND CAPTAIN, EMS OPERATIONS OFFICER

  • 1984 - 1991

  ➤ Development team member for the Commonwealth of Virginia Office of EMS Quality Assurance program and assisted the Office in the development of satellite EMS continuing education. ➤ Participated in the development of benchmarking performance measures through associations such as the International City Management Association (ICMA). ➤ Served as a member of ASTM F-30 Committee for the development of national EMS standards. ➤ Proposed, coordinated, implemented the first joint fire and police Critical Incident Stress Management Team in the US. Show less