[Archived] News Release - Alexandria Fire Chief Earns Professional Designation of Chief Fire Officer

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	August 23, 2007 PIO# 206-07/jlh	Jennifer Harris, Communications Officer, at 703.838.5078

Alexandria Fire Chief Earns Professional Designation of Chief Fire Officer

Alexandria Fire Chief Adam K. Thiel will be awarded the professional designation of “Chief Fire Officer” (CFO) today at the Fire-Rescue International conference in Atlanta, a part of the annual meeting of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). Chief Thiel was selected to receive the CFO designation by the Commission on Professional Credentialing of the Center for Public Safety Excellence (www.publicsafetyexcellence.org) at its July 11, 2007, meeting. He is one of just 525 CFOs worldwide.

The Center for Public Safety Excellence’s Chief Fire Officer Designation program is a voluntary program designed to recognize individuals who demonstrate their excellence in seven measured components: (1) experience, (2) education, (3) professional development, (4) professional contributions, (5) association membership, (6) community involvement, and (7) technical competencies. A Board of Review consisting of members of the fire and emergency services profession, academia, and municipal agencies reviews each application and recommends successful candidates for designation to the Commission.

Chief Thiel was sworn in as Chief of the Alexandria Fire Department August 6, 2007. Prior to his current position, he served as the deputy chief of emergency services for the City of Goodyear, Arizona, managing the city’s response to fires, medical emergencies, hazardous material releases, and rescue situations. He is a certified fire officer, fire-rescue instructor, rescue diver, hazardous materials technician, and paramedic.

In 2002, former Virginia Governor Mark Warner appointed Chief Thiel as Executive Director of the Virginia Department of Fire Programs. During his tenure as Executive Director, he served as a member of the Commonwealth Preparedness Working Group, the Virginia Emergency Response Council, the State Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Advisory Committee, and the Critical Infrastructure Working Group. From 1995 to 2002, Chief Thiel was a member of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, rising to the rank of Lieutenant.

Chief Thiel earned bachelor’s degrees in history (UNC-Chapel Hill) and in fire science (University of Maryland University College), and a master’s degree in public administration from George Mason University. In 2004, he attended the Harvard University Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government. He has also served as an adjunct instructor at several colleges and universities.

For more information, please contact Jane Malik, Public Information Officer at the Fire Department, at 703.838.4339 or email jane.malik@alexandriava.gov.

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