McLean, Va. – Each year, the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) EMS Section awards the James O. Page Award to an exceptional leader in fire-service-based EMS. This year’s awardee is Chief J. Robert Brown, Jr. (Ret.), a fire service veteran and prominent community member from McLean, Va.
Sponsored by ZOLL Medical Corporation, this annual award recognizes the professionalism, vision, and positive impact of a specific leader in the Fire Service EMS community.
Chief Brown’s remarkable career of 40-years in the fire and rescue service began as a firefighter paramedic when he received a bachelor’s degree at the University of Missouri in public administration. From there, he worked his way up through the ranks of Lieutenant Captain, Division Chief, and Assistant Chief, culminating with 20 years as a fire chief representing all areas of the U.S. (West Coast, mid-west, northern, and southern states). These positions include metropolitan departments, as well as volunteer/combination jurisdictions, both large and small. During this active, successful tenure with notable career appointments, he also served the Department of Homeland Security in Virginia.
Chief Brown joined the IAFC as a full member in 1987. In 2012, as fire chief of a metropolitan department, Chief Brown was invited to join the IAFC/NFPA Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association. During his fire service career, Chief Brown has served as President of the IAFC Missouri Valley Division; Treasurer, Director-at-Large, and International Director of the IAFC Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Section; President of the Colorado State Fire Chiefs; and Chair of the Northern Virginia Fire Chiefs.
With so many years of experience under his belt, Chief Brown’s listen-first approach to leadership often surprises those who are accustomed to a more authoritarian management style. He is a kind, compassionate leader, always driven foremost by the needs and potential of both U.S. and international fire service communities. He fosters partnerships among subject matter experts, seeks advice from successful leaders, and is keen to always establish opportunities for the next generation of leaders. He has long valued the importance of transparency, accuracy, and timeliness in communications with all levels within the fire service community. As CEO and Executive Director of the IAFC, he has facilitated the journey of a 150-year-old organization as he recognizes and embraces IAFC’s modern potential as a highly acclaimed fire/EMS organization serving global citizens. As such, he is visionary, as guided by the IAFC Board of Directors, with changes that have resulted since the IAFC 2023-2025 Strategic Initiatives Plan launched, and with planned initiatives continuing to evolve, the potential for future growth and success is nothing short of visionary.
“Chief Brown’s leadership and ability to work with the Board has been integral to the IAFC evolution as a member-led organization,” said President and Chair of the Board, Fire Chief John Butler, Fairfax County (VA) Fire Rescue Department. “His tireless work ethic for the greater good of the Fire/EMS community, both as a veteran first responder, Fire Chief, and an outspoken citizen advocate, has been an inspiration to all of us. It is fitting that he is being recognized for his enthusiasm and dedication toward fire-based EMS, along with his professionalism, vision, and drive for excellence.”
The annual James O. Page Award has been a tradition since 1995, when its namesake was made the first recipient in what would become a long line of noteworthy fire and EMS leaders. ZOLL will join the IAFC in officially recognizing Chief Brown as the 29th recipient of this prestigious award through a dedicated ceremony at the 2024 Fire-Rescue Med conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.
