Fairfax, Va., September 29, 2006... During the International Association of Fire Chiefs’ annual meeting, President Chief Bill Killen was awarded a medal and citation from the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Exceptional Public Service.
The citation was signed by Kenneth J. Krieg, Under Secretary of Defense Acquisition, Technology and Logistics and was presented during the IAFC’s presidential gala by Kevin King, Manager, Fire Protection Programs, Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps.
Chief Killen was cited for exceptional public service as president of the IAFC, director of Navy Fire and Emergency Services for 19 years and a firefighter for more than 50 years. Chief Killen founded and served as the charter chair of the IAFC’s Federal and Military Section. He served on the initial task force to develop more uniform methods to evaluate fire departments, which evolved into the national accreditation process in place today.
As chair of the Department of Defense Fire and Emergency Services working group, Chief Killen aggressively spearheaded the development and implementation of standards of cover documents for each DOD fire department, a rational and systematic way to provide and resource emergency services. He created the National Fire Service Mutual Aid System Task Force, focusing on the development of interstate mutual aid plans for all 50 states to better ensure smooth response to significant emergencies.
In presenting the citation, Kevin King said, “He personifies the DOD firefighter’s motto of ‘protecting those who defend America.’ The distinctive accomplishments of Chief Killen reflect great credit upon himself and the Office of the Secretary of Defense.”