The International Assocation of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) have appointed J. Robert “Rob” Brown, Jr. as Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director. 

As CEO/Executive Director, Mr. Brown will be responsible to assure that the Association builds upon our near 150-years of success at the forefront of the fire, rescue and emergency services profession and that the Associations advocacy, leadership, education and service initiatives are laser focused on the success and support of members worldwide. Additionally, Mr. Brown is responsible for the overall leadership, management and continuity of IAFC corporate operations and serves as President and CEO of subsidiary company, Emergency Services Consulting International (ESCI), working with ESCI Chair, Chief Chris Christopoulos.

After retiring as fire chief, Mr. Brown joined the IAFC staff in 2015, before leaving two years to serve the Commonwealth of Virginia as Chief Regional Coordinator of Emergency Management and Homeland Security in Northern Virginia and the National Capital Region (NCR). Following that, Rob returned in 2018 to lead the international outreach programs.

In August of 2019, with a strong reputation as a change agent and success in crisis leadership, Mr. Brown was appointed by the IAFC Board as Interim CEO/Executive Director to lead the Association through significant leadership, fiscal and organizational transformation challenges.

Appointment unanimously agreed by IAFC board

 “It is because of Rob’s history as a change agent, his in-depth and diverse understanding of fire/EMS leadership along with his success in exceeding all goals set during this period by the IAFC board of directors, that the board unanimously agreed that Rob is the right choice to continue working with us to bring the IAFC to the next level” stated Chief Ken Stuebing on behalf of the IAFC Board of Directors. Rob’s understanding and embracing a renewed “focus on the members” culture aligns perfectly with the 2021 and beyond goals set by the board. 

About Rob Brown
Mr. Brown served 38-years in the fire and rescue service – 20-years as fire chief – and joined the IAFC as a full member in 1987. In 2012, as fire chief of a metropolitan city, Mr. Brown was invited to join the IAFC/NFPA Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association. During his fire service career, Mr. Brown has served as President of the IAFC Missouri Valley Division; Treasurer, Director-at-Large and International Director of the IAFC Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Section; President of the Colorado State Fire Chiefs; and Chair of the Northern Virginia Fire Chief’s.

Mr. Brown holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri and is a master’s degree candidate in Intelligence and National Security at the Daniel Morgan Graduate School of National Security in Washington, DC. Mr. Brown is a graduate of the United States Fire Administration’s National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program and held Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence, Commission on Professional Credentialing, while actively serving as fire chief.

Mr. Brown and his wife of 31-years have four sons and make their home in McLean, VA (Fairfax County), where Mr. Brown serves as Vice Chair of the Public Safety Committee for the McLean Citizens Association.