IAFF-FC Board of Directors – Independent Directors

James ”Jake” Lemonda has been a fire fighter with the FDNY for 36 years. He has worked his way up the promotion ladder and is currently a battalion chief. He was elected to the Uniformed Fire Officers Association (UFOA) Local 854 Executive Board in 2009. He has served as president of the UFOA from 2014 to 2021, stepping down in 2021.

Travis Chipman was elected secretary-treasurer position in 2015 for Portland, OR Local 43. He has served the City of Portland, Oregon, for nearly 20 years.

Jeff Buddle currently serves as the president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Maryland. He also concurrently serves as president of the Montgomery County Career Firefighters Association Local 1664. Jeff has been an active member of the IAFF since 1996 and holds the rank of master fire fighter with the Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service.

Robert Weeks is president of Vancouver, BC Local 18, executive vice president of the British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters and on the board of a major pension plan.

As the president of Columbus, OH Local 67, Steve Stein has the privilege and responsibility of representing more than 1,600 brother and sister fire fighters, EMTs and paramedics. He has been an IAFF member for 15 years and holds three degrees from the University of Cincinnati, including an MBA from the Carl H. Lindner College of Business.

Darrell Roberts is a 22-year veteran of the Chula Vista Fire Department and is currently serving his fourth term as president of Chula Vista Local 2180. Darrell also serves California’s Professional Firefighters as the 1st District Vice President and serves the IAFF as a Strategic Campaign Specialist, where he supports and serves IAFF Locals across the IAFF.

Jim McDade has served as president of Dallas, TX Local 58 for six years and has been a fire fighter in Dallas for 16 years.

Rocco Salvatori is a driver/engineer with the City of Bradenton Fire Department and is a member of Suncoast Professional Firefighters and Paramedics Local 2546. He serves as the vice president of the Florida Professional Firefighters.