President Bush has announced his intention to nominate Chief Gregory B. Cade as administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration. Cade is a highly accomplished and respected member of the firefighting community, and when confirmed, will bring nearly 40 years of emergency management experience to the position.

Cade currently serves as fire chief and emergency services coordinator for Virginia Beach, Va., a post he has held for the past eight years. In that position, he is responsible for 19 fire and rescue stations and leads a staff of more than 500 firefighters and emergency response personnel. The Virginia Beach department was one of the first fire departments in the nation to be accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International and has assisted in management of several federally declared disasters.

In a statement issued by the Department of Homeland Security, Secretary Michael Chertoff says, “Greg began his career as an entry-level fire fighter and he has put that frontline experience to good use as Sponsoring Agency Chief for Virginia Task Force 2, in his role on the National Urban Search and Rescue Team Advisory Board, and in several leadership positions with national fire associations and organizations. Greg has also been a voice for firefighters throughout the country as a regular editorial contributor to FIRE CHIEF magazine. … I look forward to Chief Cade’s quick confirmation, and will count on his strong leadership, local perspective and vast expertise at the Fire Administration.”

Cade also serves as a member of FIRE CHIEF’s editorial advisory board. His most recent contribution to the magazine, part of FIRE CHIEF’s yearlong observance of its 50th anniversary, is an essay in the November issue on fire service leadership.