Paid On Call Staffing Model

Patrick J. Kenny has been a member of the fire service for over 38 years, a chief officer for over 25 years, and before retiring was the Fire Chief in Western Spring, Illinois. A popular speaker, he has presented throughout the U.S. and in multiple countries on Mayday for Mental Health® for more than a decade. He has written articles on mental health, leadership, fire safety, and fire code challenges. In 2004, he was awarded the Fire Chief of the Year by the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association and in 2020, he was awarded the George D. Post Instructor of the Year by the Fire Engineering/International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI).

Chief Brian Scott is a motivated, dynamic, and hands-on Chief Officer with over 30 years of progressively responsible professional fire service leadership experience that has resulted in highly developed leadership, administrative, and communication skills integrated with a personal commitment to the best traditions and ideals of the fire service.

He has extensive experience as a Chief Officer with leadership responsibilities in all facets of municipal fire departments, including fire operations, fire prevention, specialized fire, and rescue training as well as professional standards, personnel matters, and apparatus purchase and maintenance. He retired after 22 years with the City of Evanston Fire Department as Chief in 2021 and he currently serves as the Deputy Chief of the Village of Western Springs Department of Fire/EMS.

Chief Scott also has over 18 years of experience as an IFSI Field Instructor focusing on leadership development and decision-making on and off the emergency scene. Course instruction includes Company and Advanced Fire Officer, Fireground Command Officer School, and Leadership Development and Decision Making (LDDM). He has also instructed for several years at the Chicago Fire Department's Quinn Fire Academy.

Chief Scott is a certified Chief Fire Officer (CFO) and holds a Master of Science Degree in Public Safety Administration from Lewis University. He is a proud member of the Rotary Club International and the South Side Chapter of the Fraternal Order of Leatherheads Society.

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.