Three at-large directors will be elected in the 2021 SHS Section Election. All positions will begin at Fire-Rescue International 2021 and are three-year terms. Candidates listed here alphabetically by last name.
The SHS Section Board has also updated their bylaws, proposed bylaw changes will be voted on by the membership during this election. Review them here (PDF).
Matthew Clark, Williston (ND) Fire Department
Division Chief of Operations
Members of the IAFC and the SHS section, my name is Matt Clark and I currently serve as the Division Chief of Operations for the Williston Fire Department, Williston North Dakota. Our department is a 4 station combination department with 106 total members. We are located in the heart of the Bakken oil patch in northwest North Dakota. I began in the fire service in 2005 and have worked as both a civilian firefighter and military firefighter for the U.S. Air force. I have been fortunate throughout my career to have worked around the world in the fire service. Throughout my time my goal has always been to improve the fire service and help my fellow firefighters out anyway I can. I ask for your support and to be selected for one of the open At-Large Director positions for the Safety, Health and Survival section of the IAFC. I am committed to bringing my operational experience to the table, along with my educational experience. I currently hold a Master’s in Public Administration and am half way complete with a second Master’s in Occupational Safety and Health. If selected I will work to provide a transparent leadership approach and will ensure I perform well beyond the requirements of the position. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Dave Emanuel, Durham (NH) Fire Department
Fire Chief
Dave Emanuel is a career Fire Chief in Durham, New Hampshire and a lifetime member of the Stratham Volunteer Fire Department. Since his introduction to the fire service as an Eagle Scout through the BSA Explorer program, he has over thirty years of service with volunteer and career departments.
Having served as a volunteer chief officer, Dave understands that addressing firefighter health, safety, and survival challenges are vital for both the career and volunteer fire chiefs. He strives to network and leverage connections on the local, state, and national level to build relationships and forward education and training for industry progress.
Dave takes on difficult topics and has served on the IAFC Bullying Behavior Prevention Taskforce since 2017 and chaired the Taskforce since 2019. He has been a regular presenter at FRI, collaborator for the 2018 FRI Bullying Prevention Symposium, and was a facilitator to bring the Workplace Bullying Institute’s train-the-trainer to FRI in 2019.
Dave is professionally credentialed as a Chief Fire Officer by the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) where he serves as a CPC Commissioner, a graduate of the NFA Executive Fire Officer Program, and holds Bachelor degrees in Business Administration and Civil Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of New Hampshire. He is an instructor for the NH Fire Academy and a nationally recognized leadership speaker.
He would consider the opportunity to serve the Section on the board a great honor and asks the membership for their support.
Steve Hoffmann, Town of Farmington (CT) Fire Department
Director of Fire & Rescue Services, Deputy Fire Marshal, Assistant Emergency Management Director
As Director of Fire & Rescue Services for the Town of Farmington Fire Department, I have been tasked with being responsible to the Town Manager for all fire, rescue and emergency medical services in the Town of Farmington. Some of my responsibilities directly related to health & safety include strategic planning; policy development; coordinating the training and physical fitness programs of the department; develop specifications for needed equipment and evaluate risk management issues. In this position I also hold the title of Assistant Emergency Management Director and Deputy Fire Marshal.
I have been engaged in the municipal and Industrial emergency services for 23 years. Training and safety have always been of pivotal importance to me. I have always strived to ensure the topics of firefighter health & safety are communicated and ways to mitigate those concerns are researched as well as implemented. I will look to network with other organizational leaders to continue to develop initiatives and strategies that will enhance firefighter health & safety on a global level.
The Town of Farmington Fire Department has enhanced health & safety through numerous initiatives to include establishing a Health & Safety Committee, appointment of a Health & Safety Officer, cancer awareness/prevention, established a Risk Management Plan, Instituted a Health & Wellness Program, established a Peer Support Program, adopted an EAP program for all department members and their families and annual reviews of Directives pertaining to the health & safety department members. We also were awarded the Billy Goldfeder Fire Service Organizational Safety Award in 2020. The department continues to be progressive with protecting its firefighters on as well as off the fire ground.
Randy Larson, Pagosa (CO) Fire Protection District
Fire Chief
Chief Larson began his career with the Amarillo (TX) Fire Department in 1981; retired after 25 years to take a position with the Upper Pine River Fire (CO) Protection District as Deputy Chief of Operations and Training. Chief Larson is currently the Fire Chief with the Pagosa (CO) Fire Protection District. Chief Larson has a degree in Fire Protection Technologies from Amarillo College where he also was an instructor in the Fire Academy, Hazardous Materials Academy, Environmental Protections Department and the Lead Instructor in the FPT Degree program. He was elected to a position as Director-at-Large on the SHS Section in 2018.
Chief Larson, a thyroid cancer survivor, will work diligently to better the safety of all firefighters and help those diagnosed with fire service-related cancer receive the care and support that they deserve. Fire service cancer is a growing epidemic and needs to continue to be on the front lines of our battle. We need to make it easier for firefighters and families to receive immediate support through Worker’s Compensation by enhancing the “presumptive” designation so it is clear and understandable.
Another great concern to the fire service in bullying and harassment. Chief Larson has worked with the Bullying Behavior Prevention Task Group to help eradicate this from the fire service since its inception.
Chief Larson understands issues of the small, rural fire department with limited resources and budgets and works tirelessly to represent those that are under-represented in organizations concerned with the safety and well-being of firefighters.
Ken Morgan, Meriden (CT) Fire and Emergency Services
Fire Chief
I have 40 years in the fire service, 44 years in Emergency Services. I have served in a large organization in Clark County Nevada, moving to Meriden, Connecticut in 2013. I am the Chief of a 115-member combination department. Both my Doctorate and Masters Degrees are in Public Administration; I am a graduate of the EFO program, and a CFO Designate. I am on the Board of the Connecticut Career Chiefs, and a member of the Connecticut Fire Chiefs Association. Additionally, I am an adjunct Professor at the University of New Haven.
I have been a member of the SHS Section for several years and have had the honor to serve on the SHS Board. This section has a direct influence on the health and safety of the members of the fire service, regardless of whether you are a career or volunteer member. I am encouraged by the impact the SHS section has on the fire service physical, and mental health platforms.
As fire service leaders, we must present one unified voice to stay ahead of the potential occupational threats. The SHS through the IAFC continues to make progress to those visible threats. We must continue to strengthen our safety posture towards those less detectable including cancer, mental health, and bullying in the work place. I Therefore, I am asking for your vote to advocate for you and our brothers and sisters in the fire service to carry on our unified mission.
Paul E. Sullivan, Middle River (MD) Fire & Rescue/Eastern Division IAFC
Fire Chief (retired)/Second Vice President
I have been in the fire service for over 30 years. I started my career in 1987, in Frederick, Maryland as a volunteer working my way up through the ranks. For the last three years, I held both the Assistant Chief and Chief positions for Middle River (MD) Fire & Rescue located in Middle River, MD. I am also a dedicated safety professional with over 20 years of experience. Prior to entering the private sector, I worked for both federal OSHA and the Maryland state plan.
In addition to having earned a MS Degree in Safety Sciences, I possess certification as a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Safety & Health Manager (CSHM), and as a Fire Department Safety Officer. I am an active member of the American Society of Safety Professionals and the Fire Department Safety Officers Association.
Today, I serve as the Second Vice President for the Eastern Division IAFC and as the President of the Maryland Fire Chiefs Association. As an Emergency Services Instructor with the University of Maryland Fire & Rescue Institute (MFRI), I enjoy teaching various safety officer and management level classes to fire service professionals.
In closing, safety and health must be paramount to our members and leadership. Although strives have been made; work remains to be done. I’m running for the SHS Section Board because I think we can do better; I want to be a part of the process to get us there. I appreciate your vote to the SHS Section Board.
John Tippett, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation/North Beach (MD) Volunteer Fire Department
Director of Fire Service Programs/Executive to the Fire Chief, Training Officer, PIO
We have no greater responsibility as officers than to pursue with all vigor efforts that champion firefighter safety, health, survival, and improve long-term quality of life.
John Tippett is Director of Fire Service Programs for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and a 47–year fire service veteran. John has been a member of the Safety, Health and Survival Section since 2005 and currently serves as an at-large director on the SHS Board. He spent 8 ½ years with the Charleston (SC) Fire Department as the department’s first deputy chief of operations and one year as interim fire chief prior to joining the NFFF. His work in Charleston involved assisting with the CFD’s recovery from the tragic Sofa Super Store Fire. Prior to Charleston, John worked his way through the ranks of the Montgomery County (MD) Fire and Rescue Service, achieving the rank of safety battalion chief. He continues to be an active member of the fire service through his membership with the North Beach Volunteer Fire Department in Calvert County (MD). John holds a bachelor’s degree in Fire Science and a master’s degree in Emergency Services Management. He has worked extensively on officer development and firefighter safety initiatives throughout his career, including introducing Crew Resource Management to the fire service and the Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System during part-time work with the International Association of Fire Chiefs. He was the 2006 recipient of the ISFSI’s George D. Post Instructor of the Year Award.
Darin D. Wallentine, Tucson (AZ) Fire Department
Deputy Chief, Safety & Wellness Division
Beginning his fire service career in 1992, Deputy Chief Darin Wallentine leads the Tucson Fire Department (TFD) Safety & Wellness Division. Chief Wallentine’s 29-year fire service career brings a broad level of experience and leadership to the Safety & Wellness Division and will bring the same to the position of At-large Director for the IAFC Safety, Health, and Survival Section.
Chief Wallentine has earned a Master of Arts degree from Arizona State University in Public Safety Leadership and Administration and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from California State University at Fullerton. He has also completed the Eller Executive Southwest Leadership and Foundations of Public Sector Leadership Program at the University of Arizona.
At TFD, Chief Wallentine provides administrative oversight in safety-related areas including occupational health through annual physicals, cancer research and prevention, behavioral health and wellness, and is the City of Tucson Emergency Operations Center Safety Section Chief in support of the COVID-19 pandemic response for 4,400 city employees. Lastly, Chief Wallentine is honored to lead TFD through collaborative partnerships with researchers at the University of Arizona, University of Miami, and NIOSH/CDC. As a cancer-survivor, Chief Wallentine is passionate about firefighter occupational cancer research and prevention and works closely with the Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study (FFCCS.org).
Chief Wallentine is a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the Safety, Health and Survival Section (SHS), International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), and a Pro Board Certified Health and Safety Officer (HSO).
Tim Wayne, Goodyear (AZ) Fire Department
Deputy Fire Chief
I would like to start off by telling you about my professional background and provide some insight as to why I have an interest in the director position. I began my 30 plus year in public safety as an Air Force firefighter. I have spent most of my career with the Glendale Fire Department where I held many positions; firefighter/paramedic, fire captain, specials events captain, PIO, EMS Division Chief, Deputy Chief, Shift Commander and Emergency Manager for the city. In 2015, I was honored to be selected as a Deputy Fire Chief for the Goodyear Fire Department. I am proud to serve and support an amazing group of men and women.
I have earned a bachelor’s degree in Fire Service Management from Ottawa University and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. Additionally, I’m a graduate of ASU’s Certified Public Manager program and obtained the Chief Executive Officer designation from Texas A&M University.
Our department has suffered significant losses and we honor those that have served everyday by focusing on firefighter safety. That culture of safety extends into everything we do and as result we are raising the bar of firefighter safety.
My background, education and safety experience makes me a strong candidate with a lot to offer. I am very interested in serving as a director and having a larger role within this amazing community. I understand that the position will require work and an investment of time and energy but shall yield a worthwhile experience.
At-large Director Eligibility:
At least six of the nine at–large directors of the Section’s Board of Directors must be non-retired, current Regular Section and IAFC members at the time of their candidacy and, if elected, must maintain IAFC and Section memberships for the duration of their term. No more than three of the at-large directors may be retired chief officers. There is currently one retired At-Large Director.
Any at-large director of the Section’s board who retires while in office shall be permitted to remain in office for the duration of his/her term as long as the number of retired directors on the board does not exceed three. If a retirement causes this number to rise to four, the director shall remain in office until the next regular annual meeting of the Section, when a new director shall be elected by the membership.
Section members who are Associate members of the IAFC may not serve on the Section’s Board of Directors.