NFPA Appointed Next CEO and President

Ross Ashley, a visionary executive with over 30 years of experience in corporate leadership, public safety, intelligence, and emergency management, was unanimously chosen by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Board of Directors to serve as the organization's next president and CEO.

“For 130 years NFPA standards, research, public education and training have been the foundation of fire, life and electrical safety. Ross has the determination and skills to continue the growth of NFPA to further advance its critical mission,” said David R. Paulison, chair of the NFPA Board.

Ashley most recently led programs to assist state and municipal emergency management customers with all facets of preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation while serving as Senior Director, Emergency Management at KPMG LLP. Throughout his career, he has managed more than $10 billion in financial aid programs for preparedness and disaster relief while serving as assistant administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). He has also headed government, non-profit, and for-profit organizations. In the areas of digital innovation, cooperative collaborations, organizational expansion, public policy and regulatory affairs, he is a well-known leader.

After 20 years of combined enlisted and officer duty in the Air Force Reserves and Air National Guard, Ashley retired. He was the first member of the Air National Guard to live at the Joint Military Intelligence College and earn a master's degree in strategic intelligence.

“I am impressed with the trajectory of NFPA to reach new heights in order to meet the fire and life safety challenges of our times,” said Ashley. “The quest to better protect people and property from fire and other hazards should never be stagnant. I’m looking forward to building on the success that Jim and the team have built.”

Ashley will begin working with Jim Pauley on July 1st. Jim Pauley has been the president and CEO of the NFPA since 2014 and will retire at the end of July. Pauley has been a member, chair of the standards council, member of the technical committee and president of the NFPA for more than 35 years. In order to increase its influence on fire safety, NFPA has been pursuing rapid expansion under Pauley's direction. To be more digital, more global, more linked and more diverse are its four strategy pillars.

“I’m proud of our many advancements over the last 12 years,” said Pauley. “Today’s world requires not only change but faster change. Our information and knowledge today reaches more people, in more places, in more ways, which translates to greater safety against new and persistent threats,” said Pauley. “Ross Ashley is an excellent choice to continue the momentum at NFPA, and I am sure he will find it as fulfilling as I have.”