The 2026 International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Fire Chief of the Year winners were revealed by Pierce Manufacturing. This year's winners are Fire Chief Amy Ramon of the Cy-Fair Fire Department in Houston, TX, and Fire Chief Gail Schmidt of the Rockerville Volunteer Fire Department in Rapid City, SD.

Since 1996, the IAFC has honored one career fire chief and one volunteer for exceptional service each year. A select committee reviews nominations with an emphasis on leadership, creativity, professional growth, ethics, public service and contributions to the fire service. At the Fire Rescue International (FRI) convention in Kansas City, MO, the 2026 IAFC Fire Chief of the Year awards were given out.

“We are honored to recognize Chief Schmidt and Chief Ramon, two exceptional leaders who have dedicated their careers to strengthening the fire service and protecting the people they serve,” said Marty Bass, president of Pierce Manufacturing. “Their accomplishments reflect the very best of fire service leadership which include vision, integrity, resilience and a deep commitment to their teams and communities. Pierce Manufacturing is privileged to join the IAFC in celebrating these two remarkable chiefs and the lasting impact of their service.”

Gail Schmidt

As the fire chief of the all-volunteer Rockerville Volunteer Fire Department since 2014, Chief Gail Schmidt has devoted more than thirty years to the volunteer fire service. She has consistently shown a dedication to operational preparedness, firefighter health and safety, professional growth and regional cooperation throughout her career. Her leadership has improved fire and emergency services in Pennington County and the Black Hills area, in addition to her department.

One of Chief Schmidt's most significant achievements was resolving the department's rural response district's severe lack of a dependable water source. A multi-year project led by her produced a district-owned water system with a 60,000-gallon storage system and a hydrant at the department's main station that can provide 600 gallons per minute. In addition to generating additional regional training opportunities, the project greatly enhanced emergency response capabilities, firefighter safety and suppression efficacy. Additionally, she oversaw a regional grant program that secured over $915,000, or more than $1 million in equipment, to replace outdated radios and pagers and enhance communication with Pennington County's emergency response organizations.

Beyond emergency response, Chief Schmidt's dedication to service goes far beyond that. She has championed firefighter physical and behavioral health, helped expand mental health assistance for volunteer firefighters in South Dakota, organized regional training programs and worked in specialized search and rescue roles. Chief Schmidt's leadership during the massive 2019 search for a missing nine-year-old child demonstrated her exceptional commitment to public service, as she spent 65 operational days and traveled over 750 miles on foot to aid in the search.

Amy Ramon

Chief Amy Ramon has been the fire chief of the Cy-Fair Fire Department since 2014 and has over thirty years of experience in the fire service. The department has changed significantly under her direction, becoming one of the biggest combination fire departments in Texas and the country from a mostly volunteer outfit with only four of 13 stations employed with round-the-clock fire suppression coverage. In order to fulfill the demands of a city that is expanding quickly, the department continues to enhance its staff, infrastructure, and emergency response capabilities while serving close to 600,000 residents.

Chief Ramon has maintained his attention on the individuals driving the goal during this expansion. She promoted a comprehensive mental health program that offered proactive behavioral health tools and therapy to staff, with over 54 percent utilization. In order to promote early detection and address the increased occupational cancer risks firefighters confront, she also gave priority to comprehensive cancer screening programs. A culture of accountability, professional growth, operational excellence and support for firefighters, paramedics, staff and their families has been established because to her people-centered leadership.

Thru her leadership in regional and statewide fire service organizations, her efforts to train future fire service leaders, and her support of firefighter health, safety, and sustainable emergency services, Chief Ramon has an impact that goes beyond Cy-Fair. She was previously named Texas Fire Chief of the Year and is respected by peers and colleagues for her strong leadership, sound judgment, integrity and capacity to steer a complex organization through substantial development and change.

The fire service's highest standards of leadership are demonstrated by Chiefs Schmidt and Ramon. Through decades of service, each has shown the vision, tenacity and dedication needed to fortify their organizations and improve the efficacy, health and safety of the fire service. Their selection as the 2026 IAFC Fire Chief of the Year awardees honors both their leadership's enduring influence and their remarkable individual accomplishments.