HONOR TRADITION
EMBRACE INNOVATION
Chief Donna Black
IAFC 2nd Vice President 2020
Donna M. Black
EFO/CFO, Fire Chief
Phone:
252.261.3929
Email:
Address:
1259 Duck Road
Duck, North Carolina 27949
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Department Affiliation:
Duck Fire Department
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A MESSAGE FROM CHIEF DONNA BLACK
My name is Donna Black. I am the Fire Chief of a combination fire department in Duck, North Carolina. I am a proven leader and the residents in my community trust me.
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I am running for 2nd Vice President of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) in 2020.
It is my hope that you will support my bid for office so that we may work together to strengthen the future of our fire and emergency service. It has been my honor to hold positions on a number of meaningful IAFC and VCOS committees and boards over the last several years. My rich experience in the fire service has resulted in a vast body of knowledge. I bring a much needed local perspective to emergency response issues. As a result, I have been instrumental in identifying solutions that result in facilitating positive change.
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This is a pivotal moment in fire service history in which we must HONOR TRADITION AND EMBRACE INNOVATION. Our roles have evolved tremendously from simply “putting water on the fire.” While we must never lose focus on that, we must acknowledge varying perspectives in emergency service delivery. It is critical to manage expectations and resources within a world of ever increasing service demands.
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We must protect the health and wellness of our firefighters, provide the best training and information possible for them to do their jobs safely, and protect the interests of the communities in which we live.
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How do we honor tradition and yet still embrace innovation so that we maintain the safety and effectiveness of our workforce?
As your 2nd Vice President, I intend to work closely with the myriad of resources available through the IAFC to make us more relevant than ever. Our IAFC members, leadership, sections and divisions, staff and multitude of partners provide a wealth of knowledge. This allows us to build a strong strategic platform to lead, educate, serve, and provide solutions to challenges.
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PLATFORM
A STRATEGIC DIRECTION
How do we honor tradition and embrace innovation so that we maintain and sustain the emergency services workforce safety and effectiveness?
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As your 2nd Vice President, I intend to listen to our membership, work with our leadership, Sections and Divisions, staff, and our many partners to ensure we carry out our strategic direction to lead, educate and serve, and provide solutions to identified problems.
Specifically, I would like to address the following ...
EXPERIENCE
2006 to Present
Fire Chief
DUCK FIRE DEPARTMENT
Over 22 years of experience in Fire & Emergency Operations with a focus on Emergency Management. One of my major career accomplishments has been the realignment of an all-volunteer fire department to a thriving combination fire department. My competencies include Fire Suppression, Fire Prevention, EMS, All Hazards Incident Management, Code Inspection, and Community Risk Reduction among other crucial programs. Committed to continuous training and regional participation in order to foster relationships with mutual aid partners.
2012
Executive Fire Officer
Chief Fire Officer
NATIONAL FIRE ACADEMY | CENTER OF PUBLIC SAFETY EXCELLENCE
I am a life-long learner dedicated to creating a legacy that betters the fire service. As a CFO I stand committed to keeping the fire service relevant and prepared for future challenges. Attaining my EFO introduced me to a vast network of fire service leaders from which I often draw perspective and knowledge.
2015 to Present
IAFC Board of Directors
INTERNATIONAL ASSOC OF FIRE CHIEFS
I have the privilege to serve as the International Director representing VCOS on the larger IAFC Board. I have also served as a member of the VCOS Board of Directors and the IAFC Program Planning Committee. I am also the current Co-Chair of the IAFC Women Chiefs Council. A member of the IAFC since 2005, I directly credit this organization for deeply enhancing my proficiency in critical topics pertaining to emergency response.
EDUCATION
2015-2016
Certificate (Post Graduate),
Certificate in Community Preparedness & Disaster Management
UNC GILLINGS SCHOOL OF GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH | UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA
1988-1990
Master of Arts (MA),
Exercise Physiology
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION | UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
ATHENS, GEORGIA
1983-1987
Bachelor of Science (BS),
Exercise Physiology
SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES & HUMAN PERFORMANCE | ITHACA COLLEGE
ITHACA, NEW YORK