NAMES IN THE NEWS
DEPARTMENTS
Julius W. Becton, Jr., a former U.S. Army three-star general, has been sworn in as director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), replacing Louis O. Guiffrida who resigned last October. Previously, Becton served as director of the Agency for International Development’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance following his 40-year military career.
As director of FEMA, Becton will be responsible for establishing federal policies for emergency preparedness and directing non-military planning and readiness programs affecting the functions of federal government in all emergency situations. Becton also will serve as chief United States delegate to the NATO Senior Civil Emergency Planning Committee and chief delegate to the NATO Civil Defense Committee.
Becton earned a master of arts degree from the Institute for Defense Analysis.
James P. McNeill officially assumed the duties of associate director of training and fire programs for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), overseeing the operations of FEMA’s National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, MD.
McNeill has spent more than 20 years working in the education and training field, including his position as associate superintendent for the National Fire Academy where he was responsible for all administrative operations and helped develop the Academy’s initial curriculum planning.
McNeill received his M B.A. and Ph D. degrees from New York University.
Engineer/Paramedic John Quick was named Orange County, CA, Firefighter of the Year, and Battalion Chief Larry Greene was named the Orange County Fire Paramedic Association’s Overachiever of the Year.
Mr. Quick, a member of the Fullerton Fire Department for 13 years, was honored for his commitment to community service, particularly in combating drunk driving. He serves on the board of directors of the Orange County Chapter of the Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (M ADD), speaks before community groups about the dangers of mixing alcohol and driving, and donates off-duty time to speaking with new paramedics about the realities of their job, preparing them for the tragedies they will encounter as well as helping them hone their “bedside manners.” Quick is vice-president of the Fullerton Firefighters Association, and chairs the association’s Charities Committee. He is also a delegate to the California State Firefighters Association.
Chief Greene, a 17-year veteran of the Fullerton Fire Department, has helped present fire safety programs to the public as well as conducted cardiopulmonary and basic first aid training classes. He is president of the Paramedic Coordinators Association, and has represented the county’s paramedics on the Orange County Emergency Medical Care Committee. Greene is also a member of the Orange County Fire Chiefs Emergency Medical Service and Legislative Committees, as well as the California Fire Chiefs Emergency Medical Service Section.
Lawrence R. O’Leary, director of O’Leary, Brokaw & Associates Inc., a national consulting firm headquartered in Clayton, MO, providing human resource development services, has been appointed honorary fire chief by the City of Miami, FL, Fire Department. Mr. O’Leary was given this honor for heading the Assessment Center Program, a project developed and implemented by his firm. This Assessment Center Evaluation Program was tailored to identify qualified candidates for a number of open positions as chief fire officers for the City of Miami Fire Department.
Charles L. Page was appointed as head of the Building Codes Inspection and Fire Protection Training Divisions of the Texas Engineering Extension Service. Thomas P. Foster, chief of the Lubbock Fire Department and a 21-year veteran guest instructor with the Texas Firemen’s Training School, has been named assistant division head of the Fire Protection Training Division.
Mr. Page replaces Henry D. Smith, who retired. Mr. Smith headed the Fire Protection Training Division since 1955 and the Building Codes Inspection Training Division since its establishment in 1970. Mr. Page joined the Alto Fire Department in 1952 and advanced to the rank of chief. He joined the Fire Protection Training Division in 1971 as an instructor, and in 1980 received the distinguished service award for instructional and related services staff from the Texas Engineering Extension Service. Mr. Page is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a bachelor of science degree in industrial education.
Mr. Foster joined the Lubbock Fire Department in 1952 and advanced to the rank of chief in 1975. He is a member of the National Fire Protection Association and is past president of the Texas Fire Chiefs Association. He served as a member of the advisory board for the Firemen’s Training School from 1981-1985.
The Chief Robert W. Little Humanitarian Award, sponsored by the International Association of Fire Chiefs Foundation and the Volunteer Firemen’s Insurance Services, was presented to J. R. Rosencrans, deputy chief of the Anderson, IN, Fire Department. A 15-year veteran firefighter, Chief Rosencrans was honored for his “commitment, dedication, and lifelong service to the community.” He turned the $1,000 check connected with the award over to the family of a drunk-driving victim.
Lejames E. Suess was appointed assistant fire chief of the San Jose, CA, Fire Department. In his former position as deputy fire chief, Suess initiated a work system that reduced sick leave usage, improved productivity, and reduced costs. During his assignment as director of training, he established the department’s emergency medical technician program, instituted the first fire department officers management training program, and developed the mandatory mask safety rule. Chief Suess has a bachelor of arts degree and a master’s degree in public administration.
