STEVE AUSTIN
Retired Pittsburgh Fire Chief Charlie Dickinson is seen poised to become Deputy Administrator of the USFA. The choice couldn't be better. If the appointment comes about, the love fest with this Administration's picks for key emergency service leaders continues into the second year of the Bush Administration.
Don't call me a partisan; I liked the way James Lee Witt did business in the later stages of the Clinton Administration. Witt began to assemble fire officers at USFA and brought talented people on board that understood what fire protection is all about.
Joe Allbaugh, President Bush's FEMA Director has continued in this direction with the appointment of Chief David Paulison as Fire Administrator and Chief Ken Burris as Director of FEMA Region IV. Now it looks as if another stellar move is afoot by putting the highly respected former chief of the Steel City in place as the man who will run the day-to-day operation of the USFA on the Emmitsburg MD campus. Dickinson has served in important consultant positions since retiring a few years ago and moving to central Pennsylvania from where he regularly commutes to campus.
Dickinson garners a lot of respect in the fire service. He has been through the best and worse times in Pittsburgh including a multiple firefighter death incident. His experiences played an important role at the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation where he donated his time helping to prepare other fire chiefs for the worst moments of their lives.
Charlie has a command presence but also a very personal way of interacting one on one with his team. Working quietly behind former Chief Operating Officer Ken Burris, Dickinson saw to it that the fire grant program was handled smoothly and efficiently. He enjoys well-earned respect from managers and the USFA employees bargaining unit. More importantly he has the admiration of firefighters.
Should Dickinson get the post as Deputy Fire Administrator, he will be in charge of making sure that the operating programs of the Fire Administration are delivered efficiently and fairly. Administrator Paulison shouldn't have to worry about Emmitsburg. He will be busy enough in Washington and on the road moving his fire safety agenda. While Paulison plans on spending time each week on campus, his Deputy will be the Fire Administration's field general carrying out the Administrator's policies.
It is a job that fits Charlie Dickinson to a tee. Charlie is the right man for the job. Administrator Paulison and FEMA Director Allbaugh shouldn't waste any time putting Chief Dickinson to work.
