FireRescue1 & Fire Chief Editorial Advisory Board
John Buckman III
Ret. Fire Chief, German Township (Ind.) Volunteer Fire Department
Chief John M. Buckman III is Fire Chief's editorial advisor. He served 35 years as fire chief for the German Township (Ind.) Volunteer Fire Department. He served 15 years as director of firefighter training for the Indiana State Fire Marshal Office, retiring in April 2018. He is a past president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and a co-founder of the IAFC Volunteer and Combination Officers Section. In 1996, Fire Chief Magazine named Chief Buckman Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year. He is a co-author of the Lesson Learned from Fire-Rescue Leaders and is the editor of the Chief Officers Desk Reference. He is the owner of Wildfire Productions and is a sought after keynote speaker.
Ted Aroesty
Executive Director, Brighton (N.Y.) Fire District
For 28 years, Ted Aroesty has been a volunteer for the Brighton Fire Department, serving as chief from 2003 to 2005. Aroesty is responsible for the day-to-day administrative operations of the Brighton Fire District, working in conjunction with the fire chief to ensure that every aspect of their fire and EMS response is ready to meet the needs of the community.
Garry Briese
Executive Director, Colorado State Fire Chiefs
Garry Briese is principal at Briese and Associates and executive director of the Colorado State Fire Chiefs. He served as the executive director of the International Association of Fire Chiefs from 1985 to 2007, where he was responsible for the organizational vision, development and implementation of the strategic plan, development of programs and services, communication with members, leading major partnership initiatives, coordinating public and governmental communications efforts on a national and international basis and assuring solid financial growth. He has more than 36 years of experience in all levels of emergency services, including local, state, national and international. He is a leader, author, and lecturer within the fire and emergency services community.
Pedro Cáceres
Battalion Chief, Wayne Township (Ind.) Fire Department
Pedro Cáceres began his career with the Wayne Township Fire Department just over 23 years ago. After obtaining an architecture degree from Ball State University and working as an architect for a few years, he transitioned into a full time career in the fire service. He has been promoted over the years to various ranks from private up to his current rank of battalion chief. He has served as the division chief of support services and as division chief of training and safety. He is a member of the Indiana Task Force One (INTF-1) team as a rescue officer. He is a member of the Indiana Smoke Diver Association. He is a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy. He also earned a Master’s of Public Affairs from Indiana University.
Billy Hayes
Former Fire Chief, Riverdale (Ga.) Fire Department
Billy Hayes, also one of our columnists, has served as the director of public information and community affairs for the District of Columbia Fire and EMS Department and as the chief of fire services for the City of Riverdale, Ga., and is a past-president of the Metro Atlanta Fire Chiefs Association. He is a graduate of Georgia Military College and the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program. He additionally served as the Advocate Program Manager for the Everyone Goes Home campaign through the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, where he was also a State and Region IV Advocate.
Gary Ludwig
Fire Chief, Champaign (Ill.) Fire Department
Gary Ludwig is a 39-year fire service veteran, having served in the St. Louis and Memphis fire departments for 35 years. He has written over 500 articles for professional publications and has been invited to speak at over 250 professional EMS or fire conferences or seminars. He is the co-author of several books and author of "Blood, Sweat, Tears, and Prayers – Firefighting and EMS in Some of the Toughest Cities in America." He was the 2014 James O. Page EMS Leadership Award winner.
Ron Siarnicki
Executive Director, National Fallen Firefighter’s Foundation
Fire Chief Ronald Jon Siarnicki, also one of our columnists, began his fire service career with the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department in 1978 and with 24 years of fire, rescue and emergency medical services operational experience, he has progressed through the ranks to chief. In July 2001, Chief Siarnicki retired from the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department to take the position of executive director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
Phil Stittleburg
Fire Chief, Past Chair, National Volunteer Fire Council
Phil Stittleburg joined the volunteer fire service in 1972 and has been chief of the LaFarge (Wis.) Fire Department since 1977. He serves as Chairman of the Board of both the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). He is also legal counsel for the NVFC, the LaFarge Fire Department, and the Wisconsin State Firefighters Association.
Linda Willing
President, RealWorld Training & Consulting
Linda Willing is a retired career fire officer and currently works with emergency services agencies and other organizations on issues of leadership development, decision making and diversity management through her company, RealWorld Training and Consulting. She is also an adjunct instructor and curriculum advisor with the National Fire Academy. Linda is the author of "On the Line: Women Firefighters Tell Their Stories." She has a bachelor’s degree in American studies, a master’s degree in organization development and is a certified mediator.
Rob Wylie
Ret. Fire Chief, Cottleville (Mo.) Fire Protection District
Chief Rob Wylie has been in the fire service for 28 years serving first as a volunteer firefighter and then as a career firefighter, rising through the ranks to become the fire chief of the Cottleville Fire Department in St. Charles County, Mo. in 2005. Wylie has served as a tactical medic/TEMS teamleader with the St. Charles Regional SWAT Team for the last 18 years and serves on the Committee for Tactical Casualty Care’s Guidelines Committee.