Relationship Building

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.

Mr. Turpen has been engaged in Indiana EMS for 40 years, with 36 of this as a paramedic. He has been heavily engaged in EMS training and EMS quality improvement for the past 36 years. He has served AMR and predecessor companies for the past 36 years in educational delivery, care guideline development and process improvement functions. Mr. Turpen has also served since 2005 on the Indiana EMS Commission and by gubernatorial appoint has chaired the regulating body since 2012. He holds instructor certifications in CPR, ACLS, Wilderness First Aid, Stop the Bleed, Handtevy Pediatrics, Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma and Suicide Prevention. Mr. Turpen recently retired from the IVY Tech paramedic sciences program, teaching each year from 1989 through 2023. Mr. Turpen served as a volunteer firefighter from 1983 to 2003.