Virginia Fire Fighter Named White House Fellow

June 22, 2006 – Jeff Stern, a member of Arlington County, VA Local 2800 will serve as a White House Fellow from September 2006 to September 2007. After successfully navigating a highly competitive application process, Stern, an 18-year fire service veteran, is one of 14 to participate in the leadership program.

The White House Fellows Program, founded in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson, offers exceptional men and women first-hand experience working at the highest levels of the federal government. White House Fellows typically spend one year working as full-time, paid special assistants to senior White House staff, Cabinet secretaries and other top-ranking government officials.

“After taking a team down to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, I was reminded why it is so important for fire fighters to have a seat in government,” says Stern. “It was that experience that prompted me to apply.”

Through the program, Stern hopes to gain insight that will help when important fire service-related decisions are made on a local, regional and national level.

“I am extremely honored to be selected out of hundreds of very qualified professionals,” says Stern. “The more we educate ourselves on the political process, the more power the fire service will have. This is an amazing opportunity.”

Stern has spent his career as a fire fighter, paramedic, instructor, special operations team leader and officer, serving with departments in Maryland, Colorado and Virginia. He has written and lectured about fire fighter safety, training, incident management, terrorism and disaster response, and has served as a consultant to local, state, federal, and international government agencies on emergency services issues.