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2023 Excellence Conference

by yx_admin | Mar 21, 2023 | CPSE Corner, Excellence Conference News | 0

The beginning of March brought the conclusion of another Excellence Conference. Again this year, we saw record attendance with close to 900 people. It was wonderful to see so many people and have the hallways filled with folks from the global CPSE community.

Joint Meetings

The CPSE Board of Directors and the commissioners from the Commission for Professional Credentialing (CPC) and the Commission for Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) met prior to the start of conference. Th meeting provided an opportunity for the Board and Commissions to brief each other on their activities as well as hear from the CPSE staff on corporate updates.
It was also the time to recognize a few Board and Commission members for their leadership and volunteer service to the organization.

CPC Chair Toni Washington thanking City of Redwood City Manager Melissa Stevenson Diaz for her role as a CPC Commissioner. Diaz has moved on to become a member of the CPSE Board of Directors.

CPSE President Mary Cameli thanking retired Board Member Tom Harmer for his service on the CPSE Board.

CPC Chair Toni Washington thanking retired CPC Commissioner Chris Christopoulos for his service on the CPC Commission.

Networking

While education is the main focus of the Excellence Conference, the networking that happens, whether it is in the hallways, over lunch, or in meetings, is invaluable. It is a great chance to share and learn tips and ideas on the accreditation and credentialing process.

Following a tradition started last year, CPSE held the First Timers reception on Monday evening. It allowed those attending for the first time to meet and interact with each other as well as the CPSE leadership and staff. It was a great time to ask questions, learn more about CPSE, and put faces to the names that they may have been hearing about.

Opening Session

Florida State Fire Marshal Rice (CFO)
The Orange County Honor Guard started the events with the presentation of the colors and singing of the national anthem. Florida State Fire Marshal JoAnne Rice (CFO) welcomed everyone to the conference and gave a few opening remarks addressing the theme of the conference – Opportunity – Challenge – Change.

CPSE Board President Mary Cameli
Newly elected CPSE Board President, Chief Mary Cameli (CFO) from Mesa Fire and Medical Department kicked off the opening ceremony. Chief Cameli began by taking a few minutes to talk about CPSE’s vision, mission, and values. She shared the Board adoption of their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Values Statement (click here to learn more about CPSE’s DEI journey). And lastly, she shared some of the many accomplishments of CPSE had in 2022, including achieving 300 CFAI accredited agencies and launching the Public Information Officer (PIO) designation.
You can read the entire report by clicking here.
Throughout the opening session, Chief Cameli was joined on stage by CPSE CEO Preet Bassi, CPC Chair Toni Washington (CFO), and CFAI Chair Steve Dirksen (CFO).

Awards

Always a high point of the opening session is the presentation of the annual CPSE awards to those that have made a difference within their organizations and communities.

Ray Picard Award

The recipient of the 2023 CPSE Ray Picard Award is Quality Assurance and Accreditation Strategist Gwen Nieuwdorp with the Calgary Fire Department in Alberta, Canada, a CFAI accredited agency that is heading into its sixth accreditation cycle.
As a member of the Calgary Fire Department (CFD) – the first accredited agency in Canada – for over 34 years, Ms. Nieuwdorp has been involved with accreditation from the beginning. Her passion for this work is described by her colleagues as “contagious” and she is recognized as the department’s subject matter expert for “all aspects of accreditation” and continues to lead the team as they embrace continuous improvement. As a long-time member of the department, she exemplifies the values of CFD – Pride, Teamwork, Respect, and Professionalism. She also carries this commitment with her peers in Canada and other countries, serving as a champion of the accreditation process and as a mentor to numerous departments. Gwen exemplifies the spirit of Ray Picard in all that she does for both Calgary Fire Department and beyond.

Ronny Jack Coleman Leadership Legacy Award

Interim Fire Chief Ben Perry (CFO) and CPC Chair Toni Washington (CFO)
Interim Fire Chief Ben Perry, CFO, Joint Base San Antonio Fire and Emergency Services, Texas, is this year’s recipient of the Ronny Jack Coleman Leadership Legacy Award. Chief Perry is a strong proponent of the importance and value of credentialing in professional development, and continually mentors members of the Air Force in helping them achieve designation. In addition, he hosts a regular podcast that reaches all of the Air Force Fire Emergency Services, and beyond, talking with many guests about the impact credentialing has on departments, individuals, and their careers. He is working towards becoming a CPC Peer Reviewer and a CFAI Peer Assessor.

Randy R. Bruegman Agency Innovation Award

Lieutenant Daniel Myers, Care Team Coordinator Jelisa Turner, and CPSE President Mary Cameli
The recipient of the 2023 Randy R. Bruegman Agency Innovation Award is the Henrico County, Virginia, Division of Fire for their Community, Assistance, Resources, and Education (CARE) Team. This team strives to increase knowledge and accessibility of services and support for community members to address unmet needs. This is accomplished by collaborating with various county departments and community partners to connect citizens with the appropriate resources. The program has had hundreds of interactions per month along with a commensurate reduction in response to high-frequency callers. It has also resulted in a boost in morale as those in the field feel heard and can see how they are making a difference in the community beyond their 911 response. Henrico County Division of Fire has several non-traditional teams, of which the CARE Team is one, and believes that this is the future of the fire service to address an aging and evolving community.

Cliff Jones Ambassador Award

Chief Will Gray (CFO), CPSE CEO Preet Bassi, and Houston Accreditation Manager Leonard Chan
This year the CPSE staff had a difficult time selecting just one award recipient. The award goes to two individuals equally deserving.
Leonard N. Chan is the accreditation manager for the Houston Fire Department, Texas and previously served in a similar role with Cedar Park Fire Department. He currently serves as the chair of the Texas Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) Consortium. As of summer 2022, he has been assigned and completed ten peer assessments for CPSE. Leonard also served as the Chair for the 2022 CPSE Excellence Conference Education Planning Committee and has presented on accreditation topics.
Will Gray, CFO is the Fire Chief for Boulder City Fire Department, Nevada. He has been very involved in the accreditation process serving as the founding member and first coordinator of both the Rocky Mountain Accreditation and Credentialing Consortium and the Nevada Accreditation and Credentialing Consortium. Will became a peer assessor for the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) and completed five peer team site visits prior to becoming a team leader. He has led thirteen site visits across the United States and in Canada. He served as a team leader mentor and as a formal agency mentor for different departments seeking accreditation. While with the Rocky Mountain Consortium Group, he led the credentialing mentoring committee.

Michael Worthington Scholarship

In 2016, CPSE created the Michael Worthington Scholarship in continued remembrance of our long time Board member and friend, who passed away the previous year. As Mike exemplified continuous improvement and encouraged others to constantly grow and improve, we have committed to awarding up to five scholarships annually to active fire/EMS members serving at the Company Officer level. Scholarship recipients receive the FO designation, a waiver of the initial designation fee, and complimentary registration to the Excellence Conference.
This year’s five recipients were:

Captain Rommie Duckworth, Town of Ridgefield (CT) Fire Department
Captain Joseph Legg, Fort Bragg (NC) Fire and Emergency Services
Firefighter/Paramedic Joshua Schut, West Des Moines (IA) Fire Department
Lieutenant/Paramedic Tamar Stadel, Rapid City (SD) Fire Department
Lieutenant Erin Stehle, Harrisonburg (VA) Fire Department

Captain Rommie Duckworth

Captain Joseph Legg

Firefighter/Paramedic Joshua Schut

Lieutenant/Paramedic Tamar Stadel

Lieutenant Erin Stehle

NFFF

NFFF Executive Director Ron Siarnicki and CPSE Board President Mary Cameli (CFO)
CPSE has been a longtime supporter of the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation (NFFF). Last year was the CPSE’s 25th anniversary, and in recognition of this milestone CPSE set the goal of raising $25,000 for the foundation. Members of the CPSE community generously donated $10,000 to this worthy cause and CPSE provided the additional $15,000 to reach the goal. President Cameli presented longtime and retiring NFFF Executive Director Ron Siarnicki (CFO) with a $25,000 check.
CPSE plans to contribute to the foundation $20 for each paid registration of the 2023 CPSE Excellence Conference.

Keynote

Chief Matt Pegg, Toronto Fire Services
The keynote presentation was given by Chief Matt Pegg from Toronto Fire Services. Chief Pegg provided a unique perspective of the impact of the Covid lockdown on his personal and professional life. As the COVID-19 Incident Commander for the city of Toronto during this public health emergency, he was isolated in a hotel room for months. He used this time to keep meticulous notes, which resulted in a presentation titled “Good Sleep Requires Shiny Shoes – and other life and leadership lessons learned the hard way.”

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell

U.S. Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell
U.S. Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell announced the USFA’s plan to update the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), which she described as a need that is long overdue. For the next two years, significant changes will be made to the system, providing a much greater range of capabilities for the entire fire service. CPSE was honored to have Dr. Moore-Merrell present this information for the first time at the CPSE Excellence Conference.

CFAI Hearings

The Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) held the spring public hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday of that week. A total of 29 agencies appeared before the Commission, including ten first time agencies. Congratulations to everyone who appeared before the Commission. All agencies were awarded accreditation or were re-accredited.

Volunteers

What CPSE does in the world of accreditation and credentialing would not be possible without the cadre of volunteers that provide thousands of hours of support. This includes site visits, reviewing designation portfolios, and serving as subject matter experts to CPSE. During the annual Volunteer Recognition Breakfast, we acknowledged how much, as an organization, we appreciate all that they do to support our mission.

Education

Year over year, we hear from attendees that the number one reason they attend the Excellence Conference is for the educational opportunities. This year we held 75 sessions in five different tracks: Accreditation, Credentialing, Leadership, Challenges to Opportunities, and Changing for Improvement.

Consortium Meetings

The Excellence Conference provides the opportunity for members of the State and Regional Consortiums to meet, not only with each other but also with CPSE staff. Eleven of the 19 consortium groups took advantage of meeting in-person.

Exhibitors

A huge thank you to all the Excellence Conference sponsors and exhibitors. The exhibit hall was open Tuesday and Wednesday for attendees to evaluate products and services that can improve efficiencies within their department. Some of the sponsors took advantage of providing an in-depth presentation during the Technology Solutions sessions on Tuesday. Other sponsors have opted to present a live webinar later this year. Look for additional information on dates and details. Click here to learn more about all the CPSE sponsors and exhibitors.

2024

We are busy working on finalizing the dates and location for the 2024 CPSE Excellence Conference. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to stay up to date. See you in 2024!

CPSE Learning Opportunities

by Ed Comeau | Mar 8, 2023 | Accreditation, CPSE News, Credentialing | 0

Peer Assessor Training

Quality Improvement Workshops

CPSE Sponsor Webinar

On Demand Webinars

Resource Documents

At the Center for Public Safety Excellence® (CPSE®) we are excited to bring you the latest learning opportunities to advance your department and career.
Registration for the 2023 CPSE Excellence Conference is now open. Click here for more information.

Peer Assessor Training Program

May 9 & 16 – Distance learning webinarClick here for registration and prerequisite information

Quality Improvement for the Fire and Emergency Services Workshop – 3 Days, In-Person

March 27-29 – Calgary Fire Department, Calgary, ABClick here for registration and additional information
April 4-6 – Travis County Emergency Services District #2, Pflugerville, TXClick here for registration and additional information
April 11-13 – Davenport Fire Department, Davenport, IAClick here for registration and additional information
June 28-30 – Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire & Emergency Services Great Lakes, Great Lakes, IL (DoD Only)Click here for registration and additional information
July 12-14 – Creech AFB Fire & Emergency Services, Creech AFB (Indian Springs), NV (DoD Only)Click here for registration and additional information
August 28-30 – CPSE, Rosemont, ILClick here for registration and additional information
September 6-8 – Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue, Hilton Head Island, SCClick here for registration and additional information
September 25-27 – Fenton Fire Protection District, Fenton, MOClick here for registration and additional information
September 26-26 – Marysville Fire District Regional Fire Authority, Marysville, WAClick here for registration information
November 7-9 – Kingsport Fire Department, Kingsport, TNClick here for registration and additional information

CPSE Sponsor Webinar

2022 Sponsor webinars can be found here.

On-Demand Webinars and Resource Documents
We encourage you to take the time to access these free resources in the CPSE University:
On-Demand Accreditation Videos

Writing the Four-Part Answer – A webinar explaining development of the four-part answer for the self-assessment manual.
Performance Statements – A webinar explaining development of performance statements.
Creating a Strategic Plan – A webinar explaining the creation of a community-driven strategic plan.
Developing Strategic Plan Goals and Objectives – A webinar explaining how to develop effective goals and objectives for a strategic plan.
Tech Writing 101 – click here for an overview of the Advanced Technical Writing Certificate Program at George Mason and click here for more detailed information and how to register.

Resource Documents

Annual Appraisals – A handout to assist with developing annual appraisals.
Critical Tasking – A handout to aid in conducting critical tasking for all emergency response types.
Engaging Stakeholders – A handout explaining how to engage stakeholders in the CRA/SOC process.
Fire Department Strategic Plans and Community Master Plans: Are They The Same? – A handout comparing and contrasting fire department strategic plans and community master plans.
Performance Statements – A handout outlining how to develop performance statements.
Writing the Four-Part Answer – A handout explaining development of the four-part answer for the self-assessment manual.
Completing the Designation Application – Learn tips on completing the designation application for CFO, CTO, CEMSO, FM, or FO
21st Century Fire and Emergency Services White Paper – Handouts and videos on the critical issue areas.

CPSE is looking for agencies to host the Quality Improvement for the Fire and Emergency Services workshop in 2022. If you are interested in hosting a 2022 workshop, download the hosting agreement for more information.
For questions or assistance contact info@cpse.org or 703-691-4620.

Getting to know CPSE President Mary Cameli

by Ed Comeau | Feb 16, 2023 | Accreditation, CPSE Corner, CPSE News, Credentialing | 0

CPSE President Mary Cameli, CFO

CPSE Corner recently sat down with the CPSE’s new President Mary Cameli, CFO, who is the Fire Chief of Mesa Fire and Medical in Arizona, to learn more about her career and thoughts on the future of CPSE.
CPSE Corner: What was your path to becoming fire chief of Mesa Fire and Medical?
Chief Cameli: I was hired in 1983, myself and another female, and we were the first two hired on the department. I actually moved out to Arizona to teach school; I had never thought about this as a career. But I had a brother on the department and he was telling me about the job. The more he told me, the more I thought that this fits my personality. I tested in ’82, got hired in ’83, and haven’t looked back since. I moved up through the ranks to engineer, captain, battalion chief, assistant chief and then became fire chief six years ago.
CPSE Corner: What different parts of the fire department did you work in during this time?
Chief Cameli: I started in Operations, then I was assigned to Training. Once I was promoted to battalion chief I returned to Operations for a while before serving as PIO for about five years. From there, I became assistant chief and over the years I supervised a number of different divisions…Training, EMS, Public Education, Special Teams, and Planning and Research (which is responsible for Accreditation).
CPSE Corner: What has been your experience with CPSE prior to joining the Board?
Chief Cameli: Back in 2002, the then Fire Chief of Mesa, Dennis Compton, started telling us about Accreditation, through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. I was not the accreditation manager at the time, but I saw the benefits of it, having someone come in and look at your department and how you learn so much. You think you pretty much know everything already, but when someone comes in and gives you suggestions…that’s priceless.
CPSE Corner: So what do you see as the value of Accreditation, if one of your peers asked you why they should pursue accreditation for their department, what would you say?
Chief Cameli: We get very comfortable in our processes; we take things for granted. It’s always good to have another set of eyes outside of your organization looking at what you are doing. They will come up with things that you don’t even see or don’t recognize. There is a perfect example from our site visit last year. It was our fifth time through and the team brought to our attention that our ordinance in the City Charter was extremely dated. So, we brought it forward to the City Council and had it changed to reflect all of the things we do now, such as EMS, transport, social services and changed our name to include the word “Medical.”
CPSE Corner: You also hold a designation from the Commission on Professional Credentialing (CPC). How would you explain the value of that process to your peers?
Chief Cameli: Getting my CFO (Chief Fire Officer designation) was something that was so helpful to me in my career. By putting things on paper, it helps make you accountable and makes sure you are engaged in your community. It is not only a great way to keep track of where you have been but also to make sure you aren’t getting stagnant, but that we are serving our community. I’m proud to be one of the 3,000 CPC designees.
CPSE Corner: Mesa Fire was featured in the CPSE ICMA 21st Century White Paper as a department embodying re-identification. I’m sure you have seen a lot of change in your 40-year career, how is the fire service changing?
Chief Cameli: I sure have seen a lot of change, and we just keep getting better and better. I think it is so important to stay flexible to meet the needs of your department. For almost 50 years we have been involved in the medical business, and that’s when one of my predecessors, Chief Harry Beck, put that word “Medical” in our name because that is 80% of what we do. So many times, we would show up on a heart attack call and people would say they did not call the fire department, I called for medics. Well, when you call Mesa Fire and Medical, that’s what you are getting, two paramedics and two EMTs on every truck.
And when you talk about re-identification, years ago we would never have thought to have a social services division. We now have a whole division where we have social service workers that help on the calls where our crews find people struggling or need help. We are able to connect them with the resources they need.
We also focus on the high users of the system. For example, if someone keeps falling, we can connect them to the resources they need. We can also set up times in areas with high calls to go in and install pull bars in homes. We literally take a day to go in and install these bars.
CPSE Corner: In addition to keeping the community safer, does this also translate into fire fighter safety?
Chief Cameli: Absolutely. Anytime we can prevent someone from calling 911, that’s one less time the firefighters are on the road. We’re busy, they are on the road all the time. Preventing calls from happening is an important part of our business too.
CPSE Corner: Back to CPSE, what are some of the current Board priorities from the Strategic Plan?
Chief Cameli: We’re working on quite a few different areas. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is very important to us as an organization because we know it resonates throughout the fire service. We want to make sure the Board is getting training on DEI on a regular basis because what we do (at CPSE) resonates out to the fire service.
Brand awareness is another area we are working on. When someone sees the brand “CPSE” we want them to know that there are quality programs behind that name. That we high expectations for our ourselves and our agencies and officers. And that, we strive to be best in class in our governance, operations, and programs. Just like DEI, it’s important and it starts with us, the Board, because we are the ones that are going to set the standard. It’s one thing to talk the talk, but we are also going to walk the walk.
Greater and broader engagement and collaboration is a big priority for the Board. We want to actively engage with our agencies/officers to meet their needs and collaborate with the many important fire service organizations that are equally focused on supporting the fire service.
CPSE Corner: As President, what are some of your goals for the CPSE Board?
Chief Cameli: I have to say that I really feel like CPSE is on a great track. We have a great CEO who is very engaged and is always seeking out better ways to do things and is very open to suggestions from the Board. I want to make sure that people are all about sharing new ideas, coming up with new ones and being innovative. How do we meet people’s needs?
I want us to be thinking of ways that we can reach more and more fire departments across the country to help them be the best that they can be. Whether you are in Arizona, Illinois, or Maine, we all represent each other wherever we go, people look at the fire service as one big family. CPSE is trying to make the fire service overall a better place for everyone and meeting the needs of our communities.
CPSE Corner: What are some of the challenges that you think fire departments are currently facing?
Chief Cameli: I think that we’re not getting as many people interested in making the fire service a career as we used to. Funding is always an issue, but keeping firefighters is an important one. There are a lot of times that we are not seeing people make this a 25 or 30-year career, as the new generation doesn’t necessarily think that way. So, I think that sustainability in terms of getting people to continuously want to be a part of this profession is a big challenge.
Succession planning goes along with this because we have a lot of people retiring and a lot of new people coming in.
Firefighter safety is critical, and we need to ensure that we have high-quality training for them. And another part of firefighter safety is the high risk of cancer. We have a lot of presumptive cancers out there, and it makes people think twice about coming into this profession, so we must do all we can to minimize these risks. And this leads us to how we are building our stations differently, how we do decon on the fire scene, and how we change out our turnouts. There are just a lot of operational practices that are different now.
Mental health is another challenge in the fire service. For a number of years, we didn’t have peer support, but hopefully firefighters are getting more comfortable about seeking help if they need it. Years ago, it was unheard of, but now they are more willing to reach out and say, “Hey, I need to talk with somebody, I need some help,” and I’m very proud of them for doing that.
CPSE Corner: What excites you most about volunteering with CPSE?
Chief Cameli: I have to say, first, that I believe in the process, I absolutely believe in the Accreditation and Credentialing processes. It’s an honor to be a part of such a great group of people that have the same passion and that understand the value and importance of doing this. I just feel like we’re on a great path and to be a part of this organization that’s bigger than me and help to move it forward, I’m very proud to be a part of that group. We all have the same vision, and the same passion, and it’s an honor to be a part of it.
CPSE Corner: There have been some recent changes in the CPSE Board, could you share a little about those?
Chief Cameli: Jeff Pomeranz just stepped down after completing his term on the Board and serving the past two years as President. He was CPSE’s first President who was a city manager and brought a great perspective to the position. In addition, two other Board members stepped down at the end of 2022, Terry Ford (CFO) and Tom Harmer. They had great insights that we’ll miss. We wish them well in their retirement.
Three new Board Members joined us at the beginning of 2023: Derek Bergsten (CFO, CEMSO, CTO, PIO) Alec Oughton (CFO), and Melissa Stevenson Diaz. They join an existing group of board members committed to governance excellence and CPSE’s core values: Progressive Leadership, Outcomes, and Continuous Improvement.
CPSE Corner: Anything else in closing you would like to add?
Chief Cameli: Yes, I have an open door if you have any suggestions or ideas. I’m always willing to listen. I think that we have a great team that’s ready to do whatever it is we need to do to keep CPSE at the forefront, and I’m here for anyone who has any questions, concerns, or ideas on how we can do that!

The CPSE appoints Fire Chief Tiffany Green, CFO, Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department, Maryland, to the Commission on Professional Credentialing (CPC) as the Combination Department representative.

by Ed Comeau | Feb 15, 2023 | CPSE News, Credentialing | 0

Tiffany Green is the chief of the Prince George’s County Fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department, located in Largo, Maryland, one of the largest combination fire departments in the nation. She has served the Department for over 27 years and has been committed to improving and modernizing the fire service regionally, nationally, and globally. She started her journey as a volunteer firefighter and later became a career firefighter and paramedic. During her tenure with the department, she has served in numerous leadership roles to include Chief Deputy, Director of the Fire/EMS Training and Leadership Academy, Executive Assistant to the Public Safety Director, Chief of Staff for the Director of Homeland Security, Battalion Chief, and Station Commander.
Chief Green holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Safety and a master’s degree in Emergency and Disaster Management.
Chief Green earned her Chief Fire Officer designation in 2021.

Center For Public Safety Excellence® Reaches 3000 Credentialed Officers For First Time In Organization’s History

by Ed Comeau | Feb 8, 2023 | CPSE News, Credentialing | 0

In February 2023, for the first time, the Commission on Professional Credentialing® (CPC®) surpassed 3,000 credentialed professionals. At 3,063 designations, this is the highest number of credentialed professionals CPC has ever awarded. Formed in 2000 to award designation to fire and emergency service professionals worldwide, CPC, along with the Commission on Fire Accreditation International® (CFAI®), operates within the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE).
“This tremendous achievement is the direct result of the dedication of CPC designees, commissioners, and volunteers,” commented CPSE Board President Mary Cameli, CFO, Fire Chief of Mesa Fire and Medical in Arizona. “Being a CPC designee myself, I appreciate how thorough and rewarding the process is. It’s an honor to be among such dedicated professionals as we celebrate this historic milestone.”
From its inception, CPSE has valued having a diversity of stakeholder involvement, including company and chief officers, labor, city/county management, standard development organizations, insurance, and the federal government on our board and commissions.
The mission of CPSE to lead the fire and emergency services to excellence through the continuous quality improvement process of accreditation, credentialing, and education is carried out in large part by a multitude of dedicated volunteers. Thousands of individuals over the last 23 years have contributed to this milestone achievement by establishing the CPC designation process, developing six designations, and serving as CPC commissioners, peer reviewers, and mentors.
“To reach 3,000 designees is a momentous occasion for the CPC,” shared CPC Chair Toni Washington, CFO, Fire Chief of the Decatur (Georgia) Fire Department. “If it were not for the individuals who believe in the process to become designated, and the dedicated volunteer peer reviewers, this historic achievement would not have been accomplished and it would not have been possible without the immeasurable hours put in by the volunteer peer reviewers and mentors. The individuals that make up the volunteer cadre are instrumental in making the CPC process successful. I would like to offer my heartfelt thank you to all who volunteer to ensure continuous quality improvement for those individuals who support the CPC process.”
CPC Credentialing is a professional designation model that recognizes career excellence and offers strategies for continuous personal improvement. The Commission on Professional Credentialing offers six distinct designations covering the various levels and specialties of individuals, including:

Chief Fire Officer
Chief EMS Officer
Chief Training Officer
Fire Marshal
Fire Officer
Public Information Officer

CPC provides an application process that individuals use to develop a portfolio along with training and support while developing their portfolio, and access to experienced peer reviewers.
“Individuals that engage in continuous improvement efforts such as seeking a professional credential are to be commended for approaching their work in an introspective and progressive manner,” said CPSE Chief Executive Officer Preet Bassi. “Those that maintain their designations and a commitment to continual growth enjoy a full and successful career.”
In 2000, the Commission on Chief Fire Officer Designation (CFOD) was first established to credential fire and emergency service officers and in 2006, as part of an organizational restructure, CFOD was renamed the Commission on Professional Credentialing. Between 2008 and 2012, CPC would add four additional designations: Chief Emergency Medical Services Officer (CEMSO), Chief Training Officer (CTO), Fire Marshal (FM), Fire Officer (FO), and in 2022, CPC launched the Public Information Officer (PIO) designation. Also in 2022, CPC updated the technical competencies for all designations and added three new critical areas exceeding the requirements of other industry standards: Data and Analysis; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and Mental and Behavioral Health, which are all essential competencies for today’s fire service professional.
CPC designees work in many arenas such as fire and EMS, law enforcement, emergency management, and in the private sector, local, state, federal, and tribal governments, and universities. They can be found across the globe in the United States, Canada, Germany, Guam Italy, Japan, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, and United Kingdom.
“One thing that all of these designees have in common is the satisfaction of self-improvement and moving the needle of excellence,” commented CPC Program Manager Mike Higgins, CFO, CTO and CEMSO. “These individuals have proven that continuous improvement for professional credentialing can be accomplished with hard work and dedication.”
If you are interested in learning more about becoming a designated professional, click here or contact CPC Program Manager Mike Higgins.