FireRescue1 & Fire Chief Editorial Advisory Board
John Buckman III
Ret. Fire Chief, German Township (Ind.) Volunteer Fire Department
Chief John M. Buckman III, also one of our columnists, is Fire Chief's editorial advisor. He served 35 years as fire chief for the German Township Volunteer Fire Department in Evansville, Ind. He has served nine years as director of firefighter training for the Indiana State Fire Marshal Office. He was president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs in 2001-2002 and is a co-founder of the IAFC Volunteer and Combination Officers Section.
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 over 20 years ago. He has been a lead instructor for the department and the Central Indiana Fire Academy and was its director in 2008. Beginning in 2009, he served as the division chief of support services for one year and then as served as division chief of training and safety for two years. After three years of service with the administrative staff, he returned to the companies and his merit rank of captain.
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, also one of our columnists, worked for more than 20 years in the emergency services, including 18 as a career firefighter and fire officer. For more than 15 years, she has provided support for fire and emergency services and other organizations through her company, RealWorld Training and Consulting. Linda's work focuses on developing customized solutions in the areas of leadership development, conflict resolution, diversity management, team building, communications and decision making.
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.