The International Association of Fire Chiefs [www.iafc.org] (IAFC) announced that Assistant Chief Matthew Simmons of the Troy Fire Department has been accepted into the third year of the Fire Service Executive Development Institute (FSEDI). Assistant Chief Simmons competed with new fire chiefs and chief officers from across the country to become a member of the 2015 cohort program. Along with being accepted into the program Assistant Chief Simmons has been awarded a scholarship which covers the expenses for attending the program.
Assistant Chief Simmons holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Management from Bluffton University. He has 16 years of experience as a Firefighter including eight years as a Chief Officer for the City of Troy. He holds the certification of Paramedic, Inspector and Fire and Explosive Investigator. Assistant Chief Simmons was born in Piqua, Ohio. He served four years in the United States Navy and was attached to a Naval Construction Battalion and participated in Operation Uphold Democracy in 1994 in Haiti as part of a United Nations Mission. He and his wife Amy have been married for 19 years and have an eight year old son, Judah. They are very active in their church where they serve as small group ministries leaders. In his free time, he enjoys an active lifestyle of fitness, travelling and outdoor activities.
Once Again Motorola Solutions Foundation has provided the IAFC with a grant to fund the program. “Motorola Solutions Foundation recognizes the how these challenging times require a new breed of leader to head our local fire departments and national fire service”, said Matt Blakely, Executive Director of Motorola Solutions Foundation. “We’re proud to help support the education of these leaders to ensure they have the skills necessary to meet these complex and emerging issues confronting our communities.”
The Fire Service Executive Development Institute is a year-long leadership-development program created and implemented by the IAFC to provide new and aspiring chiefs with the tools they need to have successful and productive tenures. The members of the cohort will meet in May for their first 6 day session in addition to 2 other sessions six months apart. The group will communicate between sessions using an online community.
“With the success of the prior two FSEDI programs, I am excited that we can make this program available to another group of upcoming leaders in the fire-ems service”, said Chief G. Keith Bryant, IAFC President and Chairman of the Board of Directors. Many officers from the first two programs have been successful in achieving fire chief positions and in leading their departments though challenging times. They also are serving on national committees and organizations that are making a difference in the national fire service”.
Commented Troy Mayor Michael Beamish: “Assistant Chief Simmons is to be congratulated on receiving this recognition by the IAFC. He is a credit to the Troy Fire Department and all that the professional fire service represents. I am very proud to have Matt Simmons represent the City of Troy at this academy.”