Today at the semi-annual meeting for the Commission on Professional Credentialing at the Fire Rescue International conference in San Antonio, TX, Hartford Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director, Reginald D. Freeman was elected by his fellow Commissioners to serve as Chair for the Center for Public Safety Excellence’s, Commission on Professional Credentialing. The commission provides professional credentialing for fire and emergency services officers. As described by the Center for Public Safety Excellence, Inc., “this internationally-accepted model recognizes professional accomplishments and competence in fire and emergency services and offers fire and emergency service personnel career guidance and planning.” The Commission offers credentialing for:
- Chief Fire Officer (CFO) – Open to chief officers serving at or above the rank of Battalion Chief
- Chief EMS Officer (CEMSO) – Open to chief EMS officers with a minimum of 10 years emergency medical services field or system experience as an Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic, Registered Nurse, Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, or Physician.
- Chief Training Officer (CTO) – Open to administrators of training programs in fire and emergency service agencies.
- Fire Marshal (FM) – Open to fire marshals or fire prevention officers having responsibility over a fire prevention bureau or management responsibilities over code enforcement, education, fire investigations, and engineering or other aspects of fire prevention programs.
- Fire Officer (FO) - Open to all junior officers, company officers or those who have served in an intermittent acting status for 12 months.
“I am honored to serve in the capacity of Chair for this exceptional commission” said Chief Freeman. He went on to state, “professional credentialing is absolutely critical to the overall advancement of the fire service by providing objective tenements that are systematically assessed on an individual basis.” Chief Freeman is the youngest and first minority to serve as Chair for the Commission on Professional Credentialing. Chief Freeman will attend his first Center for Public Safety Excellence, Inc. board meeting this Friday, August 19, 2016 as the new Chair during the Fire Rescue International conference in San Antonio,

