I’ve known Chas professionally for over 25 years and our relationship has since grown into one of personal friendship as well. I define friends as people that I know well and that I trust as well as those I can count on in time of need. Chas and I could be working together on a countywide fire service project one minute and enjoying a beverage and some wings hours later, all the while respecting each other’s opinions. Chas rose through the ranks of the volunteer fire service from Firefighter to Chief of his company, a true feat in and of itself. Chas showed his ability again when he was named Chief Fire Officer of the Lower Merion Township Fire Department, a position he currently serves in. I have been impressed with his drive to continue with his professional development. With his career demands as well as tending to his family, he still devoted the time and drive to attain his Master’s Degree in Public Safety. Now, Chas has set his sights on graduating from the prestigious Executive Fire Officer program from the National Fire Academy. Chas’s untiring effort to expand his knowledge and formal training is also shared with his peers. I for one have been a recipient of Chas’s knowledge and support as I continue my formal education process. What impresses me the most about Chas is his dedication to his children. I can say this with most certainty that his daughter and son are the most important component of his life. I am impressed with his devotion and commitment to both of them.

I have worked with Chief Fire Officer/Fire Marshal McGarvey on several issues over the last few years including radio communications and emergency management. I have found him to be a team player who is a highly motivated individual and very detail oriented. This have been extremely helpful on our work projects some of which are complex in nature. This has been especially true in the case of radio communications. CFO McGarvey can always be relied on to finish any task regardless of the complexity. This has been a benefit in our shared roles on our Emergency Management Team. CFO McGarvey brings a wealth of knowledge to the table on this topic based on his ongoing training/experience including the National Fire Academy.

Chief Charles (Chas) J. McGarvey, Sr. has worked with me as a member of the Lower Merion Township Senior Management team since 2005. Prior to his promotion to Chief Fire Officer, Chas (as Deputy Fire Marshal) and I worked closely to research, select and implement the software package for the Fire Service. I can say unequivocally that his dedication to the Fire Service and his desire to move it into the 21st century are second to none. This is further exemplified by his leadership in the development of the 2007 Fire Services Study for Lower Merion. He worked with the consultants, the Fire Department Office, the Township Manager’s Office and the seven volunteer fire companies to chart a course for fire service delivery in the future. Chas is deeply involved in the Township’s Emergency Management Program. (He and I both serve on this team.) His leadership has been invaluable as we have worked towards the National Incident Management System (NIMS) training compliance. During this same time period, Chas has grown both professionally and academically. He graduated from Saint Joseph’s University with a Master of Science in Public Safety and, in 2009 he was selected to represent the Township in the Main Line Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program. Also in 2009, Chas was accepted into the Executive Fire Officer’s Program of the United States Fire Administration.

I’ve known Chas professionally for over 25 years and our relationship has since grown into one of personal friendship as well. I define friends as people that I know well and that I trust as well as those I can count on in time of need. Chas and I could be working together on a countywide fire service project one minute and enjoying a beverage and some wings hours later, all the while respecting each other’s opinions. Chas rose through the ranks of the volunteer fire service from Firefighter to Chief of his company, a true feat in and of itself. Chas showed his ability again when he was named Chief Fire Officer of the Lower Merion Township Fire Department, a position he currently serves in. I have been impressed with his drive to continue with his professional development. With his career demands as well as tending to his family, he still devoted the time and drive to attain his Master’s Degree in Public Safety. Now, Chas has set his sights on graduating from the prestigious Executive Fire Officer program from the National Fire Academy. Chas’s untiring effort to expand his knowledge and formal training is also shared with his peers. I for one have been a recipient of Chas’s knowledge and support as I continue my formal education process. What impresses me the most about Chas is his dedication to his children. I can say this with most certainty that his daughter and son are the most important component of his life. I am impressed with his devotion and commitment to both of them.

I have worked with Chief Fire Officer/Fire Marshal McGarvey on several issues over the last few years including radio communications and emergency management. I have found him to be a team player who is a highly motivated individual and very detail oriented. This have been extremely helpful on our work projects some of which are complex in nature. This has been especially true in the case of radio communications. CFO McGarvey can always be relied on to finish any task regardless of the complexity. This has been a benefit in our shared roles on our Emergency Management Team. CFO McGarvey brings a wealth of knowledge to the table on this topic based on his ongoing training/experience including the National Fire Academy.

Chief Charles (Chas) J. McGarvey, Sr. has worked with me as a member of the Lower Merion Township Senior Management team since 2005. Prior to his promotion to Chief Fire Officer, Chas (as Deputy Fire Marshal) and I worked closely to research, select and implement the software package for the Fire Service. I can say unequivocally that his dedication to the Fire Service and his desire to move it into the 21st century are second to none. This is further exemplified by his leadership in the development of the 2007 Fire Services Study for Lower Merion. He worked with the consultants, the Fire Department Office, the Township Manager’s Office and the seven volunteer fire companies to chart a course for fire service delivery in the future. Chas is deeply involved in the Township’s Emergency Management Program. (He and I both serve on this team.) His leadership has been invaluable as we have worked towards the National Incident Management System (NIMS) training compliance. During this same time period, Chas has grown both professionally and academically. He graduated from Saint Joseph’s University with a Master of Science in Public Safety and, in 2009 he was selected to represent the Township in the Main Line Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program. Also in 2009, Chas was accepted into the Executive Fire Officer’s Program of the United States Fire Administration.

I’ve known Chas professionally for over 25 years and our relationship has since grown into one of personal friendship as well. I define friends as people that I know well and that I trust as well as those I can count on in time of need. Chas and I could be working together on a countywide fire service project one minute and enjoying a beverage and some wings hours later, all the while respecting each other’s opinions. Chas rose through the ranks of the volunteer fire service from Firefighter to Chief of his company, a true feat in and of itself. Chas showed his ability again when he was named Chief Fire Officer of the Lower Merion Township Fire Department, a position he currently serves in. I have been impressed with his drive to continue with his professional development. With his career demands as well as tending to his family, he still devoted the time and drive to attain his Master’s Degree in Public Safety. Now, Chas has set his sights on graduating from the prestigious Executive Fire Officer program from the National Fire Academy. Chas’s untiring effort to expand his knowledge and formal training is also shared with his peers. I for one have been a recipient of Chas’s knowledge and support as I continue my formal education process. What impresses me the most about Chas is his dedication to his children. I can say this with most certainty that his daughter and son are the most important component of his life. I am impressed with his devotion and commitment to both of them.

I have worked with Chief Fire Officer/Fire Marshal McGarvey on several issues over the last few years including radio communications and emergency management. I have found him to be a team player who is a highly motivated individual and very detail oriented. This have been extremely helpful on our work projects some of which are complex in nature. This has been especially true in the case of radio communications. CFO McGarvey can always be relied on to finish any task regardless of the complexity. This has been a benefit in our shared roles on our Emergency Management Team. CFO McGarvey brings a wealth of knowledge to the table on this topic based on his ongoing training/experience including the National Fire Academy.

Chief Charles (Chas) J. McGarvey, Sr. has worked with me as a member of the Lower Merion Township Senior Management team since 2005. Prior to his promotion to Chief Fire Officer, Chas (as Deputy Fire Marshal) and I worked closely to research, select and implement the software package for the Fire Service. I can say unequivocally that his dedication to the Fire Service and his desire to move it into the 21st century are second to none. This is further exemplified by his leadership in the development of the 2007 Fire Services Study for Lower Merion. He worked with the consultants, the Fire Department Office, the Township Manager’s Office and the seven volunteer fire companies to chart a course for fire service delivery in the future. Chas is deeply involved in the Township’s Emergency Management Program. (He and I both serve on this team.) His leadership has been invaluable as we have worked towards the National Incident Management System (NIMS) training compliance. During this same time period, Chas has grown both professionally and academically. He graduated from Saint Joseph’s University with a Master of Science in Public Safety and, in 2009 he was selected to represent the Township in the Main Line Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program. Also in 2009, Chas was accepted into the Executive Fire Officer’s Program of the United States Fire Administration.