Fire & EMS Associate
Retired Deputy Fire Chief, Loudon County, Virginia, MPA, CFOD
Chief Parker enjoyed a 35-year public safety career as a firefighter and fire officer in two different Fire and EMS systems in Northern Virginia. Chief Parker began his career in Loudoun County, VA as a volunteer firefighter, serving five years in this role prior to being selected as a career firefighter with the Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue, where he served for six years. Prince William Fire and Rescue is a combination Fire and EMS system located in Northern Virginia.
After six years in Prince William County, Chief Parker transitioned to the Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Department where he rose through the ranks to Deputy Fire Chief. The Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Department is a combination Fire and EMS system. At the time of his retirement, the Loudoun County Fire and Rescue system served a population of over 430,000 residents through twenty-six stations and 750+ career and 1000+ volunteer members.
As a chief officer, Chief Parker amassed a diverse set of experiences through assignments as a Battalion Chief of Operations, Battalion Chief of Training, Battalion Chief of Human Resources, Deputy Chief of Communications and Support Services (911 Center), Deputy Chief of Operations, and with his final assignment as Deputy Chief of Health, Safety, and Asset Management.
Chief Parker has managed and directed field operations as a Battalion Chief and as a Deputy Chief where he oversaw the day-to-day field operational components to include operating as an incident commander on a variety of Fire and EMS incidents. As a Battalion Chief, Chief Parker has also managed training and education programs for the Fire and EMS system, and employee relations, risk management, hiring/on-boarding and promotional process components for the career department. In his final role as Deputy Chief of Health, Safety, and Asset Management, Chief Parker managed the 911-Emergency Communications Center, department’s infrastructure (fleet and facilities) as well as the Fire and Rescue system’s Health, Safety, and Wellness initiatives and program components.
Chief Parker holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Goerge Mason University, a B.S. in Health, Education from George Mason University, and numerous public safety technical certifications. Chief Parker also holds the Chief Fire Officer Designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence and maintains his Adjunct Instructor credential with the Virgina Department of Fire Programs as well as affiliations as a Board Officer with The Foundation for First Responder Wellness and Resiliency and as a Peer Reviewer with the Center for Public Safety Excellence accreditation program.