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Executive Board
Robert “Rob” McLeod, Chairman
Rob is a 4th generation firefighter having served 9 years with Sarasota, FL Fire Department and the last 23 years with Chandler AZ Fire Department currently serving as Battalion Chief. He has been the Health & Safety Chair for Chandler Fire for 13 years and is assigned as the Emergency Preparedness/Homeland Security and Disaster Preparedness Chief. He is nationally certified as a Health & Safety Officer through FDSOA and served as FDSOA Western Director from 2005 – 2007.
Michael “Mike” Petroff, Vice 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
Mary McCormack, Executive Director
Mary began her career in 1975 developing the first membership program for ISFSI. During her tenure with ISFSI, she was Membership Coordinator, Seminar Coordinator, Director of Internal Affairs, and Director of External Affairs. She also ran the FDIC Exhibits from 1979 to 1989. Mary became the Executive Director of FDSOA when it was established and incorporated, by ISFSI, in 1989. In 1996 she was responsible for moving FDSOA out from under the ISFSI umbrella to operating as the independent association established by the ISFSIand according to the corporation papers filed with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Directors
James Dugan, Eastern Director
Jim is a Captain with the Washington D. C. Fire and EMS Department, with 27 years of service and serves as a Shift Safety Officer. I am a member of the National Capital Region-Type3 Incident Management Team and have certifications from the Pro Board and IFSAC for Incident Safety Officer, Health and Safety Officer and Al Hazards Incident Safety Officer. I manage the DCFD PPE program, which includes maintaining NFPA compliancy, specification updates, wear testing and bi-annual cleaning program. I sit on the Council of Governments Safety & Health Committee, as well as the agency representative on the Safety Committee with labor.
Brian Parks, Western Director
Brian is a Battalion Chief and a 27-year veteran of the Phoenix Fire Department. Currently I am on special assignment with the Water Services Department to upgrade and refine their safety program and to develop and implement an emergency response plan. I have managed the department's safety program and health center and supervised the development of a 40-hour Incident Scene Safety Officer curriculum that is taught valley wide. I am a certified Incident Safety Officer and Health and Safety Officer through FDSOA and a train the trainer instructor for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation's Courage to be Safe program.
Mike Gurley
I am currently a Battalion Chief in the Virginia Beach Fire Department and have over 35 years of dedication and commitment to providing emergency services. Prior to my career in the VBFD, I was a volunteer firefighter for 5 years in the Virginia Beach Borough Volunteer Fire Department. Over the years I have serve in numerous leadership and supervisory positions including Special Operations, HAZMAT, Marine, SWAT Medic program, ALS bike team, Health and Safety Officer, FEMA USAR Rescue Team Manager, Infectious Control Officer, National Fire Academy Instructor, and I sit on the International Associations of Fire Chiefs committee for Emergency Management. I hold an Associate's Degree in Fire Science and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management. I am currently enrolled in a Masters Degree program for Public Administration.
Jeff Pindelski
I am currently a Battalion Chief with the Downers Grove, Illinois Fire Department and have been a student of the fire service for over 18 years. My work experience includes working on volunteer and part time as well as career departments providing me an understanding of the issues and challenges that are unique to each when it comes to fireground safety. My efforts and contributions in terms of fireground safety include program development and coauthoring of the text; R.I.C.O. - Rapid Intervention Company Operations through Delmar / Cengage Learning. I have also served as a revising author of five chapters of the third edition of the Firefighter's Handbook and have participated on project review teams including the second edition of the Incident Safety Officer text. My involvement with Delmar / Cengage has led to me being named as a member of their Fire Service Advisory Board.
Ian Laing, International
Ian is Assistant Deputy Chief and 34-year veteran of the Mississauga Ontario Canada Fire & Emergency Services. Ian is Co-Chair of the departments Health & Safety Committee, an FDSOA certified Safety Officer and an internationally accredited judge in Vehicle Extrication by the Transportation Emergency Rescue Committee of the IAFF.
Robert McGill, Corporate Director
Considered an “old timer” with the FDSOA, “R.J.” was part of the original group that started the FDSOA under Mary McCormack’s tutorage. “R.J.” was an early Chairman of the Board and later filled the position of Corporate Director. He retired last year after 53 years having served 20 years as Fire Chief and 10 years as Fire Marshal and Building Official for the Aerojet CA Industrial Park. Shortly after retiring he was called back to provide leadership, in training a replacement for the slot.
Staff
Certification Coordinator
Robert "Bob" Finley
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.
Membership Manager
Sally McCormack
Sally has been with the association since March of 2006. She had previously worked for 7 years as an Administrative Assistant to one of the Senior Vice Presidents at EMC Corporation, a world wide manufacturer of information data storage systems and software. Prior to that she worked for the International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI) where she started as the receptionist/registrar and then held the positions of Director of Educational Services, Operations/General Manager and finally Executive Assistant to the President and CEO of the Alliance of Fire and Emergency Management which was a spin off of ISFSI for 10 years.