Eight Senior Fire Officials Selected for Harvard's Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program

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USFA Press Office: (301) 447-1853

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) announced today the selection of eight senior fire officials to attend Harvard University's Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program conducted by the John F. Kennedy School of Government. This 19-day program brings together state and local government officials from across the United States to focus on the complex roles and responsibilities of senior elected, appointed, and career officials.

“This particular Harvard program is considered to be one of the best in the nation for bringing state and local leadership together in order to examine and discuss critical challenges facing state and local governments.”

"I am pleased to announce the senior fire officials selected to attend the 2008 Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program. This particular Harvard program is considered to be one of the best in the nation for bringing state and local leadership together in order to examine and discuss critical challenges facing state and local governments," said United States Fire Administrator Greg Cade.

The Harvard Fellowship program for fire service leaders is a joint effort between the USFA, the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the Fire Protection Publications/International Fire Service Training Association (FPP/IFSTA), and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Each organization funds two senior official fellowships. The final interviews were conducted recently at USFA's National Fire Academy, in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

The senior fire officials selected for the 2008 Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program are:

William Bingham, Fire Chief, City of Boynton Beach (Florida) Fire/Rescue Department
Eugene Campbell, Deputy Fire Chief, City of Las Vegas (Nevada) Fire Department
John Eggleston, Fire Chief, Albemarle County (Virginia) Fire/Rescue Department
David James, Fire Chief, City of Delray Beach (Florida) Fire/Rescue Department
Michael Randolph, Assistant Fire Chief, City of Gainesville (Florida) Fire/Rescue Department
Marc Revere, Fire Chief, Novato (California) Fire Protection District
Lawrence Rooney, Deputy Fire Chief, City of Peoria (Arizona) Fire Department
Mark Wendelsdorf, Fire Chief, City of Caldwell (Idaho) Fire/Rescue Department

The Harvard Fellowships were awarded by Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government's Admission Committee, based upon recommendations of a nominating panel that included representatives of IAFC, IFSTA, NFPA, and DHS/USFA. The USFA has supported the selection of senior fire officials to attend the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program since 1984.

To find out more about this USFA program, or the many other programs available through the USFA, visit www.usfa.dhs.gov.

The United States Fire Administration recommends everyone should have a comprehensive fire protection plan that includes smoke alarms, residential sprinklers, and practicing a home fire escape plan.