[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] Alexandria Fire Chief Robert C. Dubé to Retire; Corey A. Smedley Appointed Acting Chief

[Ian]

Alexandria Fire Chief Robert C. Dubé to Retire; Corey A. Smedley Appointed
Acting Chief

*For Immediate Release: June 6, 2019*

Alexandria Fire Chief Robert C. Dubé has announced that he will retire,
effective July 3. City Manager Mark B. Jinks has appointed Assistant Fire
Chief of Administration Corey A. Smedley as acting fire chief.

"I thank Chief Dubé for his many contributions at the helm of the
Alexandria Fire Department," said Jinks. "His accomplishments have provided
critical support for Alexandria's firefighters and EMS providers, helping
them protect our community and its excellent quality of life. We wish him
all the best for a well-earned retirement."

"It has been one of the honors of my professional career to lead this great
department and its dedicated members," said Dubé. "I thank them for the
amazing work they do every day to help keep our community safe, and I am
confident that our current leadership and passionate team of firefighters
and EMS providers will continue this department's proud 153-year tradition
of service."

Dubé, a 40-year veteran of the fire service, joined the City in 2014.
During his tenure, the Fire Department established a comprehensive Health,
Safety & Risk Management unit; obtained more than $5 million in grant
funding to help provide paramedic and special operations training, and
four-person staffing; implemented the fire/medic program and developed
paramedic engine companies; placed a dedicated heavy rescue service company
in service for the first time; and designed and purchased custom ladder
trucks, engines, and heavy rescue and hazardous materials response units
designed for operations in an urban environment.

Smedley, who joined the City in 2015, previously served as Deputy Fire
Chief of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. As Deputy Chief, he
worked with local and regional partners to develop the City's Emergency
Operations Plan and Threats and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
Plan. He was responsible for initiating the City's new Emergency Operations
Center, which was activated for the first time in May 2019. He has worked
with various state, regional and local agencies to provide training for the
City's public safety personnel and staff in other departments. He was
promoted to Assistant Fire Chief of Administration in January 2019.

Prior to Alexandria, Smedley served as the Deputy Chief of the Prince
George's County (Md.) Fire/EMS Department responsible for administrative
services and budget. He began his career with the department in 1995 as a
firefighter.

"Chief Smedley's extensive experience and dedication to the fire service,
emergency management, and working with our regional partners has been an
asset to the City," said Jinks. "His expertise makes him well suited to
lead the Fire Department as acting chief during this interim period."

Smedley holds a bachelor's degree in mass media from the University of the
District of Columbia and a master's degree in management from Johns Hopkins
University. He is a Nationally Registered Paramedic and a fire inspector,
instructor and investigator. He has also earned the Certified Public
Manager credential from The George Washington University.

*For media inquiries, contact Andrea Blackford, Senior Communications
Officer, at andrea.blackford at alexandriava.gov
<andrea.blackford at alexandriava.gov> or 703.746.3959.*

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This news release is available at alexandriava.gov/110041.