Chief Ernest “Ernie” Mitchell of the Pasadena (Calif.) Fire Department assumes the role of IAFC president this month at Fire-Rescue International in Dallas. Mitchell has more than 30 years of fire service experience, 20 as a chief officer and the past 10 as a fire chief.

An IAFC member since 1987, he has served on both the Diversity and Program Planning committees and was a member of the Fire Chief Designation Task Force and a participant in the 2000 Strategic Planning Process. A recipient of the 1999 IAFC President's Award for Service, Mitchell earned bachelor's and master's degrees in public administration and is past president of the Foothill Chiefs, Los Angeles Area Fire Chiefs and League of California Cities Fire Chiefs associations.

Mitchell and his wife, Donnis, celebrate 34 years of marriage this month and have two grown children, Nichelle and Marc, who will both attend the presidential dinner for the swearing-in ceremonies.

FC: As the incoming president of the IAFC, what do you see as priorities for the organization?

Mitchell: To continue the legislative activities is most important, as well as the involvement with the homeland security efforts. I also believe that partnering and outreach to other organizations is important. I believe that fire code involvement is an area that the IAFC must continue. Other priorities are the National Monument as well as the wildland issues. What will the fire service response be to wildland issues, which have been called the “fires of the future?” These fires are occurring now and will only get worse. As an organization we also need to focus on the finances and resources of the association.

FC: What are your personal goals for the coming year as president of the IAFC?

Mitchell: [I want to] carry out the activities that I said I would do when I ran for second vice president. I said I would support the needs of the membership. We have been seeking to expand the communications with membership and to ask the membership for its input. Also, unity in the fire service, sharing of information, building strong alliances and preparing for the future. Today we have more data available, and we need to share that information and educate our membership with what they need to know.

I was asked to come up with a theme for this year; I chose “Managing the Forces of Change.” We live in unique times: terrorism, diseases, the economy, being a force of stability for our nation, strengthening our partnerships to provide leadership for change. We need to be agile [and] raise our standards for chief fire officers. We need to work to improve firefighter health and safety.

FC: Is the fire service fighting for survival with the Department of Homeland Security?

Mitchell: I hope we aren't, but I think we are in a tough time. As far as our role in homeland security, we will be the first responders, and our best hope at the federal level is that they recognize that.

FC: What more should fire chiefs do to make sure there is a fire service presence in the DHS?

Mitchell: Encourage relationships with your Congressional members. Not only meet them, but get to know them and let them know our issues and needs are real.

FC: What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the volunteer fire service in America today? What about career departments?

Mitchell: Volunteering, in addition to everything else, is the availability of time. The continued expansion of rules demands more training, which takes more time. For career departments, it's the same-old persistent problem: limited resources, doing more with less. I think more volunteer departments will become combination departments as they hire on staff, but even combination departments will need more training.

FC: As you prepare to be sworn in, what advice have you received from past IAFC presidents?

Mitchell: I've been encouraged with the support from past presidents. A number of them have commented on the excellence of the IAFC staff and to rely on them. Another said to enjoy and appreciate the relationships that are formed this year. One suggested that I pick out a couple of specific projects, and another said learn to say “no” because there's so much that you'd like to do and you can't be everywhere.

FC: What one book would you recommend to your peers?

Mitchell: One that I go back to regularly is the Bible … The other book … is Finishing the Course: Strategies For the Back Nine of Your Life by Jim Sheard and Wally Armstrong.