Panel Discussion: What Actions Are Necessary to Retain More Volunteers?

Shad has over 28 years of experience in the fire service, beginning as a volunteer in 1995. He has served as the full time Fire Chief for Sublette County Unified Fire since August of 2014. Sublette County Unified Fire has six fire stations staffed with 85 volunteer firefighters and four full-time administrative staff. Shad is a graduate of the National Fire Academy - Executive Fire Officer Program and he holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Safety Administration from Grand Canyon University.

Shad currently serves as the President of the Wyoming Fire Advisory Board for the Wyoming State Rural Fire Association. The Wyoming Fire Advisory Board coordinates with local, state, and federal cooperators in matters concerning interagency wildland fire management agreements, fire response standards, fire training, and fire prevention. He also serves as the Fire Advisory Board legislative liaison where he lobbies each year for the interests of the Wyoming Fire Service.

Shad currently serves on the NFPA 1020 Standard for Fire Officer and Emergency Services Instructor Professional Qualifications Technical Committee. He has also served on the IFSTA Essentials of Firefighting 6th Edition, 7th Edition, and 8th Edition Validation Committees, as well as the IFSTA Chief Officer 5th Edition Validation Committee. Shad is a member and past Director of the Wyoming Firefighter Cancer Support Network where he coordinates cancer prevention, education, and support efforts. Shad also serves as a NWCG Division Supervisor and Type III Incident Commander for the Wyoming Incident Management Teams.

Chad began his fire service career in 1996 with the Stillman Fire Protection District in Stillman, Illinois. When Chad began his career, the Stillman department was 100% volunteer – but it soon grew to a combination department with a full-time Chief. Hoefle progressed through the ranks and served first as a Lieutenant and then as a Captain, all while serving as a Paramedic Educator in Rockford. He was the first to occupy a full-time role as Deputy Chief & Training Officer within the district and was appointed Fire Chief in 2009.

Chief Hoefle has proudly served with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, serving as an escort for the families of fallen firefighters at Memorial weekend, acting as a “Big Buddy” at the organization’s Comfort Zone camp for children who have lost a parent in the line of duty, and attending classes and summits across the United States on behalf of the foundation. He has traveled extensively as a requested speaker at fire service summits across the country and has authored numerous reports on Fire Engineering. He regularly attends classes at the National Fire Academy as well as locally in order to stay up-to-date and benefit both his department and all those who request his assistance as an educator. Chief Hoefle also serves on several state and local executive boards including a seat as 2nd VP for the Illinois Fire Chief’s Association Executive Board.

He remains an active member of his Stillman, Illinois community, and continues to reside there with his wife, Micki, and their four children.

Born and raised in Illinois, John started his fire service career in February of 2005 with the Silvis, IL Fire Department. He moved up the ranks and was appointed Fire Chief in April of 2018. In 2023 he was named Emergency Management Director for the Silvis department.

John has taught with the HazMat, National Incident Management Systems, and Cornerstone programs since 2018 and also fulfills a teaching tole in the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. He is the current President of MABAS Division 39 and has previously served as their HazMat Coordinator. His accolades include professional designation as Chief Fire Officer from the Center for Public Safety Excellence and the role of Director of the Volunteer and Combination Officers Committee on the Illinois Fire Chief Association’s Board of Directors.

Along with his two bachelors of arts degrees, John holds an associate degree in applied science (fire service officer), from Blackhawk College. His Illinois State Fire Marshal Office certifications include Chief Fire Officer, Fire Department Incident Safety Officer, Hazardous Materials Incident Command, Hazardous Materials Technician, Fire Service Instructor II, and Advanced Technician Firefighter. John is an active member of his Silvis, Illinois community and lives with his wife, Minnie, along with their three children and seven grandchildren.

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.