Since 2001...
The National Association of Emergency and Fire Officials (NAEFO) was formally organized in 2001 by the state association of Oregon, Washington, California and Montana. The organization was the result of years of collaborative meetings with elected and appointed officials from several western states who had banded together to work on issues at the regional and national level. NAEFO individual and state members have ranged from California to New York and Arizona to Missouri.
NAEFO Organizational Structure
The National Association of Emergency and Fire Officials is an membership-based organization of individuals who are current and former emergency services officials, state associations of the agencies represented by emergency services officials and other individuals or organizations affiliated with the emergency services. The membership elects officers and at-large members of a Board of Directors. Each state association member appoints a member to the Board of Directors.
Meet the NAEFO Leadership
The National Association of Emergency and Fire Officials (NAEFO) is governed by the Board of Directors and Officers and run on a day-to-day basis by the Executive Director and Administrative Secretary
President
Candy McCullough
Candy is a Commissioner and Chair of the Vashon Island Fire & Rescue in Washington.
Treasurer
Kenneth Schmalbeck
Ken is currently serving in his sixth term as a Director of the Black Jack Fire Protection District and was the founding President of the Missouri Association of Fire Protection Districts.
Director from Texas
Cliff Avery
Cliff Avery is the Executive Director for the Texas State Association of Fire and Emergency Districts (SAFE-D).
Cliff is the Principle of GCP Association Services, LLC--an organization that provides association management services and he earned his Bachelor Degree in Journalism at the University of Texas.
Administrative Assistant
Jeanne Ernst
Jeanne is the Administrative Assistant from Vashon Island, Washington.
Vice President and Immediate Past President
Robert (Bob) Skaggs
Bob previously served for 25 years as Fire Commissioner for Graham Fire & Rescue in Washington and is a past President of the Washington Fire Commissioners Association.
Director from Missouri
Kenneth Schmalbeck
Ken was the founding President of the Missouri Association of Fire Protection Districts.
Director from Washington State
Gerry W. Gustafson
Gerry has been a Commissioner since 1994 of Graham Fire & Rescue in Washington and currently serves as the Chair. Gerry is Past President of the Washington Fire Commissioners Association and also an elected member of the Pierce County Charter Review Commission.
Secretary and Director from Oregon State
David Burnett
Dave currently serves as an At Large member on the Chiloquin Fire & Recue Board of Directors and also serves as the Position #2 Director on the Oregon Fire District Directors Association Board of Directors.
Director from Montana
Bruce Suenram
Bruce currently serves as the Board Chair of the Hamilton Rural Fire District and has also served as Montana's State Fire Marshal, Chief of the Missoula Rural Fire District, and as Chief of the Kelseyville, California Fire Protection District. Bruce is a Past President of the Board of Directors of the International Association of Wildland Fire.
Director-At-Large
Orlanda Smith
Orlanda currently serves as Board of Director of the Black Jack Fire Protection District in North St. Louis County. Orlanda is also an Executive Board Member of the North County Labor Legislative Club and Delegate of the St Louis Labor Council and a member of Coalition of Black Trade Unionists.
Executive Director
Monte Olsen
Monte is Past President and Honorary Life Member of the Missouri Association of Fire Protection Districts. Monte is an Adjunct Professor for the University of Missouri's Fire and Rescue Training Institute where he teaches the Certified Fire and Ambulance District Board Training course. Monte served as Vice President of NAEFO and is a former member of the National Association of Parliamentarians.
Meet the Committee Chairs
A number of committees have been created to involve members in the future direction of the National Association of Elected Fire Officials (NAEFO). Dedicated individuals play a crucial role in the effectiveness of NAEFO on one of the following committees: Bylaws; Communications; Conference and Workshops; Education; Legislative; Membership; and Sponsorship.
Click here to see Policy 5, Appointment and Authority of Committees.
Bylaws Committee
Committee Chair Kenneth Schmalbeck
Bylaws Committee
Sponsorship
Committee Chair Candy McCullough
Sponsorship Committee
Communications Committee
Committee Chair Bill Eckroff
Bill is a Commissioner for Central Pierce Fire & Rescue in Washington.
Legislative
Committee Chair Vacant
Legislative Committee
Education and Conference Committee
Committee Chair Candy McCullough
Education and Conference Committee
Membership Committee
Committee Chair Vacant
Membership Committee
How can you help NAEFO?
The work of NAEFO is done by many people--how can you contribute? Volunteer your expertise or ask, "What needs done?".