The Fire Department Safety Officers Association was established in 1989 as a non-profit Association, incorporated in Massachusetts. Its mission is to promote safety standards and practices in the fire, rescue and emergency services community. The Association is led by a volunteer Board of Directors and has a small staff to handle the day to day operations. It is the Association dedicated to the issues that affect your critical role as Safety Officer in protecting and promoting the safety and health responsibilities you have to your department, your community and yourself. In fact, so critical is the role of the Safety Officer in every department in the country, that in a very short time in order to be a qualified Safety Officer, certification may be required. FDSOA works to help you achieve proficiency, promote the recognition of your skills and secure your future....
Executive Board
Michael "Mike" Petroff, Chairman
Mike retired as a Battalion Chief after 32 years with Ferguson MO Fire Department. Mike is a Missouri State Advocate for the Everyone Goes Home Life Safety Initiative Program. He is certified Instructor III, Incident Safety Officer, Fire Officer II and was a member of the St. Louis County Overhead Response Team. He served as Western Director 2006-2008
Richard "Rich" Maddox, Vice Chairman
Rich began his fire service career in 1974 as a member of the Resolute Hose Company #1 of the Sayville Volunteer Fire Department. He served as Company Captain and Deputy Chief and since 1992 has served as the departments Safety Officer. Rich joined the FDSOA in 1993 and served on the Incident Scene Safety Officer Certification Committee and Seminar Committee. Rich served one three year term as Eastern Regional Director and a three year term as Vice Chairman. Rich is employed by the New York State Office of Mental Health as a Clinical Risk Management Specialist. He has an Associated Degree from SUNY Farmingdale in Applied Sciences a Bachelors Degree in Health Care Administration from Saint Josephs College, and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from CW Post University Rich is currently attending CW Post University in their Masters Degree in Nursing Education program.
Robert "Bob" Finley, Interim-Executive Director/Certification Coordinator
Bob began his fire service career in 1970 in Missouri working his way through the ranks on Career, Volunteer and Combination departments. In 1974 he became a part time Associate Instructor with the University of Missouri Fire and Rescue Training Institute. In 1984 he became a full time employee serving as Chief Instructor and in 1988 became the Associate Director and Chief Operating Officer. He was in charge of the University's Emergency Service System, Employee and Student Fire Safety Program and was a member of the Safety Committee. Bob is a charter member of FDSOA serving on the inaugural Board of Directors, and has held the positions of Western Regional Director and Vice Chairman. On July 1, 2005, Bob joined the FDSOA staff as Program Coordinator responsible for certification and accreditation. Bob has extensive experience in this area helping to establish Missouri's state certification system and was involved with the establishment of IFSAC. He also served as an IFSAC Site Team Evaluator. Bob holds degrees in Education and Government along with Graduate degrees in Adult Education.
Directors
John J. McDonough, Eastern Director
John is a Certified Incident Safety Officer through both the FDSOA and the Pro Board. He is an interior firefighter and Safety Officer with Northport Volunteer Fire Department, New York. He also serves as the interface between the internal EMS Rescue Squad and the departments Executive Officers. As the internal EMS interface, he is involved in the development of Northport Fire Department�s fire ground accountability system and the new emergency rehabilitation program protocols. John has over 35 years experience in the Volunteer Fire Service and has served in numerous firematic positions and a number of high-level leadership positions in the local, county and state levels with a variety of fiermatic organizations.
Rob Clemons, Eastern Director
Rob Clemons has over 30 years of experience in both the career and volunteer fire and EMS service. He holds the rank of Battalion Chief with the Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue. Chief Clemons is currently assigned to the Operations Sections and has held many different positions during his career. He has served in the EMS Operations Section of his department as well as the Captain in charge of the Health and Safety Section. He currently serves as a program advisor and trainer for the National Firefighter Near-Miss Program.
Scott Freitag, Western Director
Scott has been in emergency services for 12 years and currently serves as the Assistant Chief of Operators for the Cottleville Fire Protection District in St. Charles County, Missouri. He is a committed fire service officer and leader that believes in the value of education, professional development and teaching. Scott has completed his Associate in Applied Science Fire Protection Technology, Bachelor of Arts Mass Communications, and a Master in Business Administration. He also holds the following Missouri Certifications: Fire Instructor II, Fire Officer II, State Certified Driver Operator, and Fire Investigator. Scott is currently a member of the International Association of Fire Chief�s Professional Fire Fraud Investigators Association, and FDSOA.
Paul Nelson, Western Director
Paul has been involved in emergency response for the past 20 years, with experiences ranging from local fire service, EMS and hazmat response to international radiation response and preparedness. He has worked for the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, managing their onsite hazardous materials response team, as well as serving as member of several Department of Energy nuclear and radiation response teams. He is the current Fire Chief of the DeForest Area Fire and EMS District in Wisconsin. Paul holds a MS in Industrial Health from the University of Michigan, BS in Occupational Safety from the Univ. of Wis.-Platteville and Certificate in Emergency Planning and Management from UC-Berkeley. He also holds a Chief Fire Officer and Executive Fire Officer designations. Paul is the current 2nd Vice President of the Wisconsin State Fire Chief�s Association, Trustee with the Fire Department Safety Officers Association Board of Directors and is the Region V Advocate for the Everyone Goes Home program.
Grady North, Corporate Director
Staff
Marianne Healion, Membership Coordinator
Sandra Fisher, Publications