10 Commandments of Leadership

John M. Buckman III served as a German Township Fire Chief managing volunteers for 35 years. He is most proud of the title “pawpaw.” Leslie his wife has spent 29 years together. He currently serves as Education Coordinator for the International Association of Fire Chief Volunteer and Combination Officers Section. He is the Director of Government and Regional Outreach for IamResponding. He served as the Indiana Fire Academy Director for 15 years. He served as President of the International Association of Fire Chief in 2001-2002.

He has authored over 150 articles in various publications. In 1996 he was selected by Fire Chief Magazine as Fire Chief of the Year in 1996. He has published 4 books and 7 photography books. He received the Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels Meritorious Service Award. The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2022 he received the Jimmy Seavey Health and Wellness award presented by the NVFC. and the Presidents Award from the International Society of Fire Service Instructors.

He was one of the founders of the Volunteer and Combination Officer Section (VCOS) and the National Fire Academy Alumni Association. He has contributed to several “ribbon reports” published by the VCOS. He was asked to be one of the editors for the original Lavender Ribbon Report published by the VCOS and NVFC in 2019. In 2021 he along with Brian McQueen spearheaded the update for the Lavender Ribbon Report. He is a principal author of the Yellow Ribbon Report and the updated updated Training Volunteers white paper published by the National Volunteer Fire Council and the Volunteer and Combination Officers Section.

Chief Barron joined Manchaca Fire/Rescue as a member in 1990. Barron has been the Department’s Chief for over 22 years and continues to serve as the Chief of the one station, 22 member Department, which serves approx. 12 square miles, 17,000 in population and runs over 1600 calls a year providing fire suppression, fire prevention, and EMS First Response services. He has led the organization from an all volunteer based organization to a fully paid department. He has been instrumental in writing and securing eight Department of Homeland Security grants and numerous state and local grants.

Barron is a master certified firefighter and master fire investigator, instructor I & II, officer I, II, III, IV, and an emergency care attendant. He teaches CPR and first aid for the department and local community. In 2012, he was the recipient of the International Association of Fire Chief’s Volunteer and Combination Section John Buckman Leadership Award and was instrumental in Manchaca Fire/Rescue receiving the IAFC Recruitment and Retention Award in 2011. In 2014, Barron was selected as the International Fire Chief's Association Fire Chief of the Year award winner.

Barron is also a member of several regional and national committees and associations such as the National Fire Protection Association, NFPA 1720 Committee, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and the Capital Area Fire Chief’s Association. Barron holds an Associate’s Degree in Fire Technology, a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Business Administration from Texas State University.