VCOS

VCOS is pleased to announce the continued sponsorship of Provident Insurance of the John M. Buckman III Leadership Award for 2012. The award recognizes a Chief Officer of a volunteer or combination fire department who stands out on the local and/or regional level as a true professional who has demonstrated leadership, integrity, and outstanding values within the fire service.   The annual award is presented each November at the VCOS Symposium in the Sun.

“Provident has been privileged to work with many truly amazing fire service leaders over the past eighty years” said Jeff Siegrist, Regional Director of Provident Insurance.  “During that time, it’s been our belief that outstanding fire chiefs from the volunteer and combination services, despite the fact that they represent nearly 80 percent of our nation’s fire service, have been largely unrecognized when it comes to national awards.  For that reason, all of us at Provident are very proud to join with the IAFC’s Volunteer & Combination Officers Section by sponsoring the John M. Buckman III Leadership Award.”  In addition to the actual award, Provident pays the winner’s travel and lodging expenses to attend the award ceremonies at the VCOS Symposium in the Sun and the VCOS will waive the recipient’s registration fee for the conference.

If you know a Chief Officer deserving of national recognition for leadership skills, please nominate him or her for the 2012 John M. Buckman, III Leadership Award. Nominees must be IAFC members. 

Click here to access the 2012 application. All applications must be received by August 1, 2012. 

2011 Leadership Award Winner: Fire Chief Christopher Jones of the Mount Carmel Fire Department (TN) is the 2011 winner of the John M. Buckman III award.  During his tenure as fire chief, he has proven to be a fine example of an effective fire service leader. Congratulations to Chief Jones for his many accomplishments. 

2010 Leadership Award Winner: Fire Chief John E. Bales of the Golden (CO) Fire Department is the 2010 winner of the John M. Buckman III award.  The award was presented by Chief Bales’ son, Captain Steve Bales, who, unknownst to his father, was brought to the Symposium in the Sun to make the presentation.  Standing to the left of Chief Bales and Captain Bales is Fire Chief John M. Buckman III.

Chief John Buckman stands with Chief John Bales as his son Captain Steve Bales presents the award

2009 Leadership Award Winner:  Chief Randall F. Parr of the Tomball Fire Department was the recipient of the award for the year 2009.  The Tomball Fire Department is a combination department serving the 20,000 residents of Tomball, a suburb of Houston, Texas.  “Chief Parr is truly an outstanding example of a great fire service leader” said Siegrist.  “Chief Parr’s accomplishments over the course of his long career are many, and his leadership skills are evident to anyone given the opportunity to meet him.  I was most impressed by his unassuming, but confident demeanor.  On a personal level, he exhibits the type of humility that often seems to be an important characteristic of a true leader… He is quick to give all credit for his success to his subordinates.”

from right to left: Chief John M. Buckman III, U.S. Fire Administrator Kelvin Cochran, Chief Randall Parr, IAFC President Jack Parow, Mr. Barry Balliet, President of Provident Insurance, Mr. Jeff Siegrist, Provident Insurance