Former Fairfax County Fire Chief Named as Deputy Assistant Administrator for the United States Fire Administration

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USFA Press Office: (301) 447-1853

Washington, D.C. - Acting Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Nancy Ward has announced the appointment of former Fairfax County Fire Chief Glenn Gaines as the new Deputy Assistant Administrator for the United States Fire Administration (USFA). A well respected member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and its Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Section, Chief Gaines has spent the past eight years as a principal architect and manager of both the Assistance to Firefighters and SAFER grant programs. In this new role, Chief Gaines brings to the position of Deputy United States Fire Administrator a keen understanding of the needs of career, combination, and volunteer fire departments and the issues affecting them during these unique times in our Nation’s history.

“One of the top priorities of FEMA is to ensure the nation’s fire service and residents are served by highly qualified fire leadership committed to the prevention, response, and recovery from fire in all communities,” said Acting FEMA Administrator Ward. “Chief Gaines brings to his new position the breadth and experience at all levels of government, including his service to the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, which this nation and FEMA needs to further ensure a fire safe nation.”

Chief Glenn Gaines started as a volunteer firefighter and fire officer and rose through the various ranks until finally serving as Fire Chief of a metropolitan community serving a population of over one million people. Throughout his career, Gaines has served in key roles in the areas of training, prevention, and operations, as well as overseeing a nationally recognized Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team which has been deployed many times both within the U.S. and internationally to disasters. Chief Gaines holds a degree in Fire Administration and has served as an instructor at USFA’s National Fire Academy since 1991.

The United States Fire Administration recommends everyone should have a comprehensive fire protection plan that includes smoke alarms, residential sprinklers, and practicing a home fire escape plan.