Chief Bingham is a 1995 graduate of the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program (EFOP) and has been awarded the designated Chief Fire Officer Designation (CFOD). He is a member of the International Association of Fire Chief's (IAFC), the International Society of Fire Service Instructors (IFSFI), the Florida Fire Chief's Association, and the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA). Bill is the President of the Palm Beach County Fire Chief's Association. binghamb@ci.boynton-beach.fl.us

Stephen R.M. Moreno III, Tarpon Springs Fire Chief, is a 27-year veteran of the Fire Service. His career began as a college student dispatcher in an early student assistance programs sponsored by the United States Congress that was designed to assist local governments in filling their needs. Upon completion of his college degree, Moreno was employed full time by the Brunswick Fire Department in Brunswick, Georgia. During the course of his 14-year career with that department, he was promoted through the ranks to the position of Deputy Chief. In the summer of 1993, he was appointed Chief of the City of Americus, Georgia, Fire Rescue Division. During his career with the City of Americus, the department lowered its Insurance Services Office rating 2 levels, resulting in lower insurance premiums to Americus' citizens. Moreno is a 1980 graduate of Brunswick College, and a 2002 graduate of the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program. He participates on review committees for the curriculum development for the International Fire Service Training Association, most recently serving on the committee developing the second edition of IFSTA's Chief Officer Series. From 1989 until 2002,he served the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs in every position in the organization, including two terms as president, and four terms as secretary treasurer. He is a member of the Pinellas County Fire Chiefs Association, the Florida Fire Chiefs Association, and the Southeastern and International Association of Fire Chiefs. He also currently serves as the Secretary Treasurer for the National Association of Executive Fire Officers.

Timothy (Tim) Curtis is the Assistant Fire Chief for the City of Beloit, Wisconsin supervising personnel issues, fire and rescue services, and special operations. With 27 years of experience in the Fire Service, Tim started his fire service career in 1980 with the City of South Beloit joining the City of Beloit Fire Department in 1988. Tim worked his way up through the ranks from Journeyman Firefighter to his current position. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin- Madison Paramedic Program, Tim has an Associate Science Degree majoring in Fire Science from Blackhawk Technical College, a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Concordia University Wisconsin majoring in Management and Communication, a Master Science Degree from Grand Canyon University majoring in Executive Fire Service Leadership, and is a graduate of the United States Fire Administration's Executive Fire Officer Program. In July 2007 Tim was awarded the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. Locally, Tim was the Charter President of the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) Division 104 for Rock County, is currently the Vice Chair of the Rock County Local Emergency Planning Commission, a member of the Rock County Terror-Core Committee, the Rock County Hazardous Material Response Committee, and is an adjunct faculty member for Concordia University Wisconsin.

Bud Phillips had a childhood dream to be a firefighter. In 1968 he was appointed as a firefighter for the Ridge Road Fire District in Greece, New York. He was the districts first training officer and was instrumental in the formation of the Monroe County Hazardous Materials Response Team in 1984. He was the team commander for almost twenty years. Bud graduated from Monroe Community College with a degree in Fire Protection Technology. In 1989 he became one of the first fire officers in New York State to complete and gain the distinguished title of Executive Fire Officer from the National Fire Academy by completing the Executive Fire Officers Program. Emergency Training Bud has had extensive training in weapons of mass destruction and was one of the original fire officers to travel to Anniston, Alabama for live agent training. Post 9-11 he responded to more than 400 calls from residents and businesses for concerns with white powder during the anthrax scares. In January of 2001 Bud was appointed Chief of the Ridge Road Fire District. When he began working for the district they had an annual call volume of 300 calls, today the district responds to more than 7000 calls a year. In 2003 the chief took a bold step and began to lead his department to become the first Internationally Accredited Fire Department in New York State. In August, 2005, after more than two years of organizational assessment and change, the District was awarded with the distinction of being the first Internationally Accredited Fire Department in NYS and only the 100th department in the country to achieve this distinguished achievement. In 2006 Chief Phillips achieved another International Accreditation milestone by being awarded with the "Chief Fire Officer Designation" (CFOD). Chief Phillips was also presented with the 2006 "Career Fire Chief" of the year award from the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs. In 1988 Bud formed a consulting firm to assist businesses and emergency service organizations with the organizational and response plans issues. As of 2006, he has traveled to Mexico and to Canada as well as around the country assisting with organizations needs. Bud is a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Fire Protection Association, the New York State Fire Marshals Association, the National Society of Executive Fire Officers, the Monroe County Fire Chiefs Association, the Monroe County Fire Marshals Association and the Firemans Association of the State of New York. Bud lives in Greece with his wife Georgann. He is the father of four grown daughters and a son, Bud Jr., who is also a firefighter following in his dads footsteps.

Chief Curmode is a 1991 graduate of the Executive Fire Officer Program. He received his Chief Fire Officer Designation in 2001 and serves as a CFAI peer reviewer and assessor. In December, 2003, he was appointed a member of the Commission on Chief Fire Officers Board representing career departments. gcurmode@sedgwick.gov

James M. (Jim) Trainor is a 35-year veteran of the fire service and is currently the Fire Chief of the City of Meriden, CT, Department of Fire and Emergency Services. Before becoming the Fire Chief in Meriden he was the Assistant Fire Chief of the Waterbury, CT, Fire Department, where he served for 32 years. Chief Trainor holds a Bachelors Degree in Fire Science from Charter Oak State College, and a Master Degree in Executive Fire Officer Leadership from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ. He is a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer Program (EFO) in 1996 and holds his Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, is a member of the CT Career Fire Chief's Association, and the CT Association of Fire Chiefs. In addition to being a member of the Board of Directors of the National Society of Executive Fire Officers (NSEFO), Chief Trainor is the current 2nd Vice President of the New England Association of Fire Chiefs. A member of Rotary International, Chief Trainor is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Meriden Salvation Army and the Meriden/Wallingford United Way.

Patrick Kelly has been part of the fire service for the past 32 years starting his career in Baltimore County, Maryland in 1974. After retiring as a Battalion Chief in 2000 he was selected as the first Commissioner of Emergency Service for Westchester County, NY managing a department responsible for countywide Fire & EMS training, Haz Mat and Cause & Origin response, countywide 911 Communications and Emergency Management. During the events of 9/11/01 Patrick was responsible to help manage resources responding into NY City to assist FDNY and NY City Emergency Management respond to and recover from the attacks on the World Trade Centers. In February of 2005 Chief Kelly accepted his current assignment as Fire Chief in DeLand, Florida, a city of 26,000 people in Central Florida. Chief Kelly is a 2003 graduate of the EFO program and holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Loyola College in Maryland. He is the incoming President of the Volusia County Fire Chief's Association, active in the Florida Fire Chief's Association EFO section and a member of Rotary International. kellyp@deland.org

Rhoda Mae Kerr is a fourth generation firefighter with over two decades of experience is currently serving as the Fire Chief with the City of Little Rock, Arkansas. A New Jersey native, Kerr taught until 1983 after graduating from William Paterson University with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and health.

 Once she left the classroom, Kerr entrenched herself in firefighting, earning an associate’s degree in fire technology in 1986 and a master’s degree in public administration in 1993 and joining several local, state and national fire professional associations. She is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program and attended Harvard University’s program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government in 2001.

Chief Kerr currently serves as the Chair for the Human Relations Committee of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, as the Past-President of the National Society of Executive Fire Officers, a support group for the National Fire Academy and is a board member for Greater Arkansas Chapter of the American Red Cross and Just Communities of Central Arkansas. She is a member of the Arkansas Women Executives, Arkansas Women’s Leadership Forum, sits on the Purse Auction Committee for the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas, an active member with the Arkansas State Fire Chief’s Association and Rotary International. In her free time she is an avid sports enthusiast – playing golf, tennis, rides bicycles, skis and any other sport that comes along. Rkerr@littlerock.org