Chuck Ryan President

Welcome From the President

Welcome to the home page of the Fairfax County Professional Fire & Rescue Officers Association.  Our organization is a bona fide, recognized employee group within the Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department.  Our Department consists of over 1200 uniformed personnel serving in 37 fire stations with a coverage area of slightly over 400 square miles occupied by over one million full-time residents.  Membership in our Association is voluntary, and is limited to career fire and rescue officers of the Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department (and retired officers, as well).  Out of approximately 400 officers in our Department, over 200 are members, and our membership continues to grow. 

Our goal for this web site is to provide relevant and pertinent information to our members, prospective members, and fire and rescue service members worldwide.  In our Links section you will find websites which lead to information on the latest in educational opportunities, new technology, strategy and tactics, hazards, and miscellaneous items that may be of interest.  If you find a link which you think would be of interest to other officers, please e-mail the site address to our Webmaster. 

I assumed the position of President in November 2004, having previously served for two years as Vice President.  Our Association is actively engaged in many facets of the Department's activities, and most of the Department's Senior Staff are also members of the Association.  My personal vow, and that of each of member of our Board of Directors, is that I will represent us to Senior Staff, the Fire Chief, and our elected officials, in a professional, discreet and businesslike manner.  This is your Association, and as such, democratic principles apply.  I will make every effort to solicit the input of the membership before stating an official position.  By the same token, I call upon each of you to be active, provide input when asked, and most importantly to remember that we are professionals and should conduct ourselves in that mode at all times.  I look forward to the exciting times that lay ahead, and I thank you for having the faith and confidence in me to carry forward our agenda.

Description

Many ask if we are a "labor local" or other type of labor organization.  We are not.  Membership in our Association is not in lieu of membership in the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 2068.  The majority of our members are indeed members of Local 2068, myself included.  Our members also have memberships in the International Association of Black Professional Firefighters, the Hispanic Firefighters Association, and the Women's Firefighters Association.  Our objective is to work in concert with the other employee groups, County government, and elected leaders to ensure a safe, efficient, and productive work environment.

 In addition to attending to the welfare of our members, and promoting and fostering camaraderie among the officer ranks, our mission is to serve in an advisory capacity to the Senior Staff of the Department, and to provide that group with an accurate account of what is happening on the street and in the stations to facilitate informed decision making. 

Annual Seminar 

Perhaps the most visible event for the Association is our annual professional development seminar.  We have hosted four seminars to date, and attendance has grown each year to more than 140 attendees for two days of learning and networking with some of the most notable names in the fire and rescue service.  Among our past speakers are been Alan Brunacini (Phoenix, AZ Fire Chief - retired), Phil McLaughlin (Philadelphia, PA Deputy Chief - retired), Bob Neamy (Los Angeles City Fire Dept. - retired), Dennis Compton (former Fire Chief, Dothan, Alabama), John Salka (FDNY Battalion Chief), Mike Bryant (Los Angeles County Fire Department Deputy Chief of Special Operations), Skip Coleman (Toledo, OH Deputy Chief), Jim Smith (Philadelphia, PA Deputy Chief), and John Norman (FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief).  In addition, we have featured some of our own current and former members at our seminars for presentations on tactical command, elevator operations at high rise fires, and WMD concerns and considerations at high-rise fires.  Our attendees come from all of the Washington, DC metro area jurisdictions, from departments across the Commonwealth of Virginia, and from as far away as Los Angeles, Houston, Tulsa, Albuquerque, Orange County, FL, Detroit, and Salt Lake City.

 Planning is well underway for our next seminar to be held October 4 and 5, 2009, and we believe we have a program in place that will easily draw 200 participants.  Seminar information and online registration information are available now.  Register early, as space will be limited!!

Closing

In closing, let me again say how proud I am to serve as President of this esteemed organization.  In fact, the Professional Fire & Rescue Officers Association is the oldest recognized employee group in the Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department, tracing its roots to the former Paid Firemen's Association.  Our successful history and bright future make this an exciting time for me to serve as your President.  Our customary "quiet diplomacy" will continue, and our democratic process for decision making and establishment of policy will continue.  Please be active and informed. 

If you are an officer from another fire and rescue agency visiting our site, thank you for your interest.  Please consider joining us in October 2007 for 2 days of unmatched professional development and networking.  Of course, if you have a link you would like to add to our site just e-mail the Webmaster. 

Again, thank you, and please visit again soon for seminar updates and new postings.  Best regards, and stay safe!