CPSE Executive Director Paul D. Brooks announced the appointment of Fire Chief Karl E. Ristow, Jr. as the Interim Program Manager to the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) beginning on January 7, 2013. Chief Brooks said, “Karl is not new to CPSE. He is a credentialed Chief Fire Officer (CFO) and has taken both basic and advanced training for self-assessment and Community Hazard and Risk/Standards of Cover. He is a peer reviewer for our Commission on Professional Credentialing and has passion for and commitment to all of our CPSE programs.”
Chief Ristow is leaving the St. John’s Fire District, Johns Island, SC, where he has served as Fire Chief since 1998, to become the Interim Program Manager for CFAI. Before that he served as a volunteer with the Camden, SC Fire Department while employed with the South Carolina Fire Academy as a Resident Training Specialist. Prior to the training academy, He served for fifteen years as a Fire Protection Supervisor and Master Instructor with experience at Shaw Air Force Base and the Department of Defense Fire School at Chanute Air Force Base.
Chief Ristow has earned a Masters of Management Degree and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. He earned two Associates of Applied Science Degrees, one in Fire Science and the other as Instructor of Technology. In addition to being a CFO, Chief Ristow is a Member, Institute of Fire Engineers (MFireE), a graduate of the NFA Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program, and holds numerous fire and fire officer certifications.
CFAI Commission Chair, Fire Chief Allan Cain, expressed his pleasure with the appointment stating, “The past year has been one of many changes and adjustments for our program, our participant organizations and our leaders. I fully expect that Chief Ristow’s knowledge and experience in the industry and with CPSE will allow him to ensure a high level of service and customer satisfaction.” Chief Brooks added,
“Chief Ristow is an action oriented individual that is very eager to begin engaging existing program participants and help the CPSE Team grow CFAI and all of our programs, helping our industry in its pursuit of excellence while improving the quality of life for those we serve.”
