Past NVFC Chairs

Learn more about the past chairs of the NVFC below.

Fred Williams – 1976-1978

In November 1975, Fred Williams represented the Firefighters Association of the State of New York at a Chicago meeting where seven state fire associations explored creating a national organization for volunteer firefighters. Officially organized on March 15, 1976, the NVFC became the unified national voice for the volunteer fire, emergency medical, and rescue services. Williams served as its first chair for two years. A longtime member of the Vigilant Fire Department in Great Neck (NY), Williams served over the years as lieutenant, captain, president, and chief. He also helped organize and belonged to the New York State Fire Service Council and was a member of the Nassau County Fire Chiefs Council, the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs, and the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

James Morgan – 1978-1979

Jim Morgan became the NVFC’s chair in 1978. At that time, the NVFC included 18 state associations, 106 departments, and four corporate members. The early efforts for the NVFC focused on direct engagement with federal leaders, and as vice chair in October 1976, Morgan met President Gerald Ford at the White House to address volunteer fire service needs and propose a $750 federal income tax exemption for compensated volunteer time. Morgan was also known for his significant statewide legislative advocacy and representation on behalf of Wisconsin State Firefighters Association and the Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs Association.

E. James Monihan – 1979-1991

Jim Monihan was a founding member of the NVFC and served on the board until his passing in 2009. He spent decades advancing first responder advocacy and strengthening healthcare delivery in Delaware. Monihan was inspired to join the fire service in 1957 by his uncle. He joined the Cranston Heights Fire Department in Wilmington (DE) and went on to hold leadership roles in the Lewes Volunteer Fire Department. He also served a term as president of the Delaware Volunteer Firefighters Association in 1978. Monihan spent many years as chair of the NVFC’s Legislative Committee, represented the NVFC on the Congressional Fire Services Institute’s (CFSI) National Advisory Committee, and testified before Congress multiple times, including key 2004 Senate testimony regarding the Assistance to Firefighters Grant. He was a recipient of the CFSI Mason Lankford Fire Service Leadership Award, and he is the namesake of the E. James Monihan Director Award that the NVFC bestows on directors who go above and beyond in service to the Council.

Robert “Red” McKeon – 1991-1995

Red McKeon was a founding member of the NVFC and built a lifelong legacy in the fire and emergency services that began in 1944. He was a member of the Occum Volunteer Fire Department in Norwich (CT) and served as chief from 1960-1995. McKeon played an integral role in forming the national Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program, testified before state legislatures and the U.S. Congress numerous times, and served on a team that developed AIDS training and guidelines with OSHA and the CDC. In his advocacy for the fire service, he met with national and foreign leaders including President George Bush, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, Popes Pius XII and John Paul II, and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. He was awarded numerous awards for leadership and volunteer service, including the NVFC Firefighter of the Year Award in 1999 and E. James Monihan Director Award in 2014.

Fred Allinson – 1995-2001

Fred Allinson volunteered with the King County (WA) Fire District for 30 years, rising to the rank of battalion chief, and for six years with the North Highline (WA) Fire District, retiring as a battalion chief and volunteer coordinator. He was also very active in the Washington State Fire Fighters’ Association. Allinson was a founding member of the NVFC and represented the NVFC on the Congressional Fire Services Institute’s National Advisory Committee, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation board, and the NFPA Technical Committee on Wildland and Rural Fire Protection. He attended many state, national, and international meetings on behalf of the NVFC and met with high-profile dignitaries including President Bill Clinton, Washington Governor Booth Garner, and Japan’s Emperor Hirohito. Allinson was named the International Association of Fire Chiefs/Fire Chief Magazine Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year in 1999 and received the NVFC Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.

Philip C. Stittleburg – 2001-2015

Phil Stittleburg began his legacy in the volunteer fire service in 1972 and has served as chief of the La Farge (WI) Fire Department since 1977. He has represented Wisconsin on the NVFC Board of Directors since 1979, joining the Council just three years after its inception. He has also been active in the Wisconsin State Firefighters Association since 1972. Stittleburg is a past chair of the National Fire Protection Association, serves on the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation board, spent 13 years as president of the NVFC Foundation, and chairs the Fire Science Advisory Board at Western Technical College. He has also authored more than 100 nationally published fire service articles, testified before U.S. Congressional Committees seven times, and represented the NVFC on NFPA technical committees. He received the Wisconsin Fire Inspectors Association’s Fire Prevention Award in 1983, the Fire Chief Magazine Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year Award in 1998, and the NVFC E. James Monihan Director Award in 2022.

Kevin D. Quinn – 2015-2019

Kevin Quinn joined the fire service in 1976 and has spent nearly five decades serving his community, the volunteer fire service, and national fire service organizations. After retiring as deputy chief of the Union Fire District in South Kingstown (RI), he returned to Station #3, where his career began, and continues incident response. A past president of the Rhode Island State Firefighters’ League, Quinn has advanced firefighter safety through the Everyone Goes Home® – Courage to Be Safe® Program, the Rhode Island Local Assistance State Team, and emergency exercise design and management efforts. He also serves as a board member to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition, served a two-term appointment with the National Fire Academy Board of Visitors, and is a former member of the ICC Fire Code Action Committee. Quinn has received the CFSI/Motorola Solutions Mason Lankford Fire Service Leadership Award, the Rhode Island State Firefighters League Lifetime Achievement Award, and the NVFC E. James Monihan Director Award. As an educator, firefighter, mentor, and national advocate, he has dedicated his career to strengthening communities and helping firefighters serve safely.