In the 1980's, Ronald J. Pawley was a Chief Officer, Incident Commander and Hazmat Professional in the Kodak Park Fire Department. At that time, the Kodak Park Fire Department (KPFD) was acclaimed to be one of the largest chemical firefighting organizations in the world. In his capacity, Ronald J. Pawley oversaw a diverse array of department operations, including hiring and training employees, evaluating staff performance, and resolving complaints. As an incident commander, Ronald J. Pawley had an enormous responsibility in the successful outcome of a chemical or any other emergency incidents.
It cannot be overemphasized as to the training, experience and education required in his role as incident commander.
Ultimately, as an incident commander and chief officer, Ronald J. Pawley's professional ability was instrumental in determining the success and the safety of all personnel involved.
One major responsibility of an incident commander is to ensure the safety of the firefighter. The incident commander is the top safety officer. During a major incident, this can be overlooked – but vigilance is always required.
Chief officer, Ronald J. Pawley motivated personnel in all daily responsibilities by implementing an Employee Participation Program. In his management capacity, he would undertake the challenging task as the Incident Commander during several emergency calls. Ronald J. Pawley joined Eastman Kodak Company in 1953. Establishing his position in the Kodak Park Fire Department, he steadily achieved higher positions of management through numerous promotions. Extensively trained in his field, Ronald J. Pawley achieved certification from the Rochester Institute of Technology, attended a national fire foam school in College Station, Texas, and attended numerous seminars through The National Fire Protection Association. Also extensively trained in medical response services, he notably attended the New York State Department of Health Emergency Medical Services Program. Prior to his service with the Kodak Park Fire Department, Ronald J. Pawley served in the U.S. Army and as a past member of the Army Reserve. Ronald J. Pawley currently lives in Rochester, New York.