I'm the Fire Chief - Now What Do I Do?

PJ Duncan serves as the fire chief of the Pleasant View Volunteer Fire Department (PVVFD). He has served this department since he was 18 years old, and the tradition set forth by our founding members is still an important part of our daily operations. Pleasant View Volunteer Fire Department serves the communities iwht 8 stations, and approximately 50 volunteers. The members are always striving to provide the best service possible and have an aggressive plan to recruit and maintain membership of an additional 100 new volunteers over the next three years. Our fire district comprises 280 square miles with a population of over 31,000. We achieve our motto of Working, Serving, Learning, Growing….TOGETHER each and every day as we fulfill our mission. Everything we do is motivated by the belief that the citizens deserve a quality of care and service second to none. Because of that, our personnel train hard and often. We are also known for our proactive approach to fire prevention. We are proud that the Town of Pleasant View and Cheatham County have adopted fire sprinkler ordinances that ensure the growth that is coming to our area is protected.



Pure and simple, fire sprinklers save lives and money. We believe that our future is brighter because of the proactive decisions made by our local policymakers.

Tim Sendelbach is a 35-year student and educator of the fire and emergency services currently serving as the fire chief for Loveland Fire Rescue Authority. Prior to joining Loveland, Tim served as assistant fire chief with the Kingman Fire Department. Tim previously served as vice president / chief of public safety operations for Bobit Business Media, the parent company of iFIRE International. Tim also served as the editor-in-chief and conference director for Firehouse overseeing the content and editorial direction of Firehouse Magazine, firehouse.com, Firehouse Expo, Firehouse World, and related products. Tim is a past president of the International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI) and has served as an assistant fire chief with the North Las Vegas, Nev., Fire Department, as the chief of training for Savannah, Ga., Fire & Emergency Services, and as assistant fire chief for Missouri City, Texas, Fire & Rescue Services. Tim has earned a master's degree in leadership from Bellevue University, bachelor's degrees in fire administration and arson, and an associate degree in emergency medical care from Eastern Kentucky University.

In 2007, the city of Inver Grove Heights, MN, hired Judy Thill as the first full-time fire chief to lead the department. Thill started her 35-year fire service career in 1989 as a paid-on-call firefighter with the Eagan, MN, Fire Department while also working as safety manager for Northwest Airlines. She was hired full time by the Maple Grove, MN, Fire-Rescue Department in 1996, serving as deputy chief for 11 years while continuing with Eagan as an on-call firefighter. Thill holds a Bachelor of Science degree in safety management and has completed all coursework toward a master’s degree in business administration. She received full scholarships to attend Harvard University’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government program and the Naval Postgraduate School’s Executive Leaders program at the Center for Defense and Homeland Security. Thill is a member of Firehouse Magazine’s Editorial Advisory Board and of the National Volunteer Fire Council Board of Directors. She received the International Association of Fire Chiefs VCOS John M. Buckman III Leadership Award and the Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association Fire Officer of the Year Award.

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.