MURIEL BOWSER
MAYOR
September 18, 2020
The Honorable Phil Mendelson
Chairman
Councilof the District of Columbia
JohnA. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 504
Washington, DC20004
Dear Chairman Mendelson:
In accordance with section 2of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law
2-142; D.C. Official Code 1-523.01), and pursuant to section 3a(a) of An Act To classify the
officers and members of the Fire Department of the District of Columbia, and for other purposes, ,
effective June 20, 1906 (34 Stat, 314; D.C. Official Code 5-402(a-1)(1)), | am pleased to
nominate the following person:
Mr. John Donnelly
North Dakota Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20011
(Ward 4)
for appointment as Chief of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, to serve at the
pleasureofthe Mayor.
Enclosed, you will find biographical information detailing the experience of the above-mentioned
nominee, together with a proposed emergency resolution to assist the Council during the
confirmation process.
I would appreciate the Council's earliest consideration of this nomination for confirmation. Please do
not hesitate to contact me, or Steven Walker, Director, Mayor's Office of Talent and Appointments,
should the Council require additional information,
Sincerely,
Murfel Bowser
 Chairman Phil Mendelson
at the request of the Mayor
A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
To confirm, on an emergency basis, the appointment
ofMr. John Donnelly asChief of the
District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the Chief
ofthe Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department
John Donnelly Confirmation Resolution of 2020.
Sec. 2. The Councilofthe District of Columbia confirms the appointment of:
Mr, John Donnelly
North Dakota Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20011
(Ward 4)
as the Chief
of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, in accordance with section
2 of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-142; D.C. Official
32 Code 1-523.01), to serve at the pleasureofthe Mayor.
33 Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copyofthis resolution,
34 upon its adoption, to the nominee and to the Office of the Mayor.
35 Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
 JOHN A. DONNELLY, SR. Eee
rea
Key Skills Creativity and innovation Developing Others Problem Solving
Strategic Planning Team Building Incident Command
Vision Accountability Financial Management
Conflict Resolution CustomerService =Politically Sawy
Profile An organizational leader with thirty-eight yearsofprogressive responsiblity in the fire
service, starting as a firefighter, then a paramedic, and continuing at all ranks up to and
including Assistant Fire Chief in the Washington, DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services.
Executive experience in leading and managing all phases of Fire and EMS Department
Operations, including budget formulation, data analysis, human resources, labor relations,
fleet operations, community preparedness, fusion center, grant management, and Special
Operations. Career experience in wildland firefighting with BLM and Aircraft Rescue and
Firefighting with Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority as Firefighter/ Paramedic.
Innovation experience and visionary leadership as a member of an executive team
establishing the Special Operations and Homeland Security Division, which includes.
responsibility for Marine Firefighting, Hazardous Materials, and Technical Rescue operations;
Emergency Preparedness activities; and managing interagency relationships. Significant
response and incident command roles with the Washington DC Fire and EMS Department to
9/11, 4 Alarm Fragers Hardware Fire, Navy Yard Active Shooter, Watergate Collapse, and CSK
Hazardous Materials Train Derailment.
Experience in media relations, Public information Officer roles, and community outreach
efforts with Citizen Emergency Response Teams, Washington DC Firefighters Burn Foundation,
Boy Scouts, Vision 20/20 Community Risk Reduction Programs, and the Red Cross.
Regional leader, experienced in forming relationships with partners from other disciplines
and branchesof government to build and strengthen local and regional preparedness.
Maintain a leadership role in the District of Columbias Homeland Security programs; and as
leader of the Local Emergency Planning Council (LEPC), Executive Director of the Securing the
Cities Program, and has served as Chair of Regional Fire Chief's Committees for Hazardous
Materials and Intelligence.
National Leader, working to advance the nations fire service as a member of the
International Association of Fire Chief's Terrorism and Homeland Security Committee and
leadership of the Department's participation in the NIST High Rise Fire Staffing Study. Serve as
a member of the Inter-Agency Board (1AB) for Equipment Standardization and Interoperability
Science and Technology. Serve in leadership roles for national programs as the 1AB
representative to the First Responder Technology Coordinating Council, and as the first
Chairman of the Fire Service Intelligence Enterprise.
Caring Leader, working with all levels ofthe Department to implement safety programs and
grow future leaders. Actively manages employees following the guiding principle that respect
and empowerment equate to organizational success. To support empowerment brings
members together under the umbrella of departmental values and mission while respecting
that each employee's experiences require different leadership interactions to move the
Department forward. Holds employees accountable to their peers and community. Uses
discipline and as a tool for improvement and when needed to protect Department and
employee.
 JOHN A. DONNELLY, SR. Oe
De
Experience Districtof Columbia Fire Department 06/1992 - present
Chief Officer-4/2008to present ($215,670)
Wide and varied assignments across operations and administrative divisions have provided
experience in all phases of the emergency response, safety programs, and risk management,
including:
Assistant Fire Chief (6/2018 - Present) As a member of the Executive Leadership
Team, lead and manage the Professional Development Bureau, comprised of the
Training Division, Human Resources Division, Professional Standards Office,
Recruiting Office, Compliance Office, and Grants Office.
Deputy Fire Chief (9/2011- 6/2018) Special Projects Officer, Fleet Manager,
Executive Officer, Homeland Security and Special Operations Division Commander,
Operations Division Commander, Executive Director Securing the Cities Program
Battalion Fire Chief (4/2008-9/2011): Emergency Preparedness (Homeland Security)
Officer, Battalion 2, OperationsDirector Washington Regional Threat & Analysis
Center,
Demonstrated leadership and emergency incident management capability as the Acting
Fire and EMS Chief during the June 2013 Fragers Hardware 4 Alarm Fireby developing
a strategy to contain and extinguish the fire, protect and inform the community of
hazardous environment and determine the cause of the fire. The Department's
response to this event received praised across the city and region.
Demonstrated ability to solve agency problems, for example:
Problem: Fire and EMS Apparatus Division are creating news headlines because of
excessive overtime and the inability to account for the Department's apparatus.
Overtime costs exceeded $1,000,000.
Action & Results: Bytying overtime to performance and readiness outcomes,
immediately reduced overtime costs to $20,000 per month. Conducted a fleet audit
and accounted for 100% of the Department's Fleet. Developed and presented an
audit report to Council Oversight Committee
Demonstrated ability to build and manage large interagency, regional teams focused on
both Fire and Emergency Medical problems, for example:
Problem: 2017 Presidential inauguration brought hundreds of thousands of
celebrants and protesters to the city, taxing Fire, and Emergency Medical Resources.
Action & Results: Served as Operations Section Chief for the planning and incident
management teams. Developed operational plans and concepts that brought
together Fire and EMS Agencies from two states and the District of Columbia, Public
Health Agencies, the Private Sector, and Military who respondedtothis historic day
without injuries despite widespread civil disturbances.
jon through ra he OF Divisi
Captain, Emergency Preparedness, Special Operations Division (12/2006 - 04/2008)
Lieutenant, Special Operations Division (11/2003 - 12/2006)
Sergeant, Truck 3 and Battalion Aide (01/2000 - 11/2003)
Firefighter, Truck 16 and Rescue Squad 3 (06/1992 ~ 1/2000)
Addit
Allentown Road Volunteer Fire Department (Progressed through ranks from
Volunteer Firefighter to Volunteer Fire Chief) 1982 - 2008
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (Fire Fighter/Paramedic) 1987 - 1992
2
 JOHN A. DONNELLY, SR. EAU @ERED
Other Adjunct Professor at the University of the District of Columbia Serve as a professor
teaching in the Fire Science Program. Developed curriculums and taught degree required
courses.
Serve asan appointed memberofthe Terrorism and Homeland Security Committee
International Association of Fire Chiefs.
Serve asa selected member of the Inter-Agency Board (IAB) for Equipment Standardization
and Interoperability ~ Science and Technology Committee.
Selected to represent Fire Service on Director's Advisory Panel NCTC.
* Nationally Recognized Fire and EMS Speaker and Published Author.
Community Obtained grants, collaborated with Red Cross to reduce fire deaths in the senior citizen, and
Outreach disadvantaged children populations with targeted smoke detector installation and Vision
20/20 community risk reduction program.
Engaged department members to support the citys Boy Scout Troops to build bridges with
youth and improve preparedness in the community.
As the Fire Chief's representative, engage community groups and neighborhood political
organizations to answer concerns about the fire and emergency medical services, to solicit
input on programs from community stakeholders and inform the community about existing
or new departmental programs.
Recognition Twitter = @FD_Observer
& Awards Sample Press Release, SIGMA Project, 3/1/2017 http://www.darpa.mil/news-
events/2017-03-01
Sample Live News Update, Fatal Trench Collapse, 2/28/17
chive tails/WRC_ 20170228 160 0 News4 Midday/start/60/end/12
* 2017 Exemplary Service Award in recognition of support to the DC Homeland Security and
Emergency Management Agency and the residents of the District of Columbia.
2017 Chiefs Award from the United States Park Policeforfacilitating support between
agencies to improve officer safety.
9/11 Response Pin,
Three Certificates of Appreciation from the Metropolitan Was ygton Council of,
Governments Fire Chief's Committee.
Bronze and Silver Medals (Valor) for the Rescue of an elderly male from a row house fire.
Multiple valor awards and letters of appreciation from the Domestic Nuclear Detection
Office (ONDO), Defense Applied Research Programs Agency (DARPA), United States Secret
Service, Allentown Road Volunteer Fire Department, and others.
Education & Master of Arts in Security Studies (Homeland Security and Defense), Naval Postgraduate
Credentials School, September 2007. 3.92 Grade Point Average, Thesis: Effect ofAssessment Processes on
Measuring Homeland Security Capability
Bachelor of Science, Fire Science, University of the District of Columbia, July 2005. 4.0 Grade
Point Average
Certifications US Citizen, Top Secret Security Clearance (FBI)
& Clearances Certified NREMT Emergency Medical Technician-Basic
Hazardous Materials Technician, \FSAC Fire Officer Il, Instructor It
National Incident Management System Certifications
Contracting Officer, SOAR User and PASS User
 Executive Office of the Mayor - Office of Talent and Appointments
John A. Wilson Building | 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20004
John Donnelly
Acting Fire Chief John Donnelly startedhis career with DC Fire
and EMS in 1992 having served as the Division Commander of
Special Operations, Homeland Security, and Apparatus
Division, and as a member of the Command Staff in Special
Projects and Executive Officer Roles.
In 2018, Chief Donnelly was promoted to the newly established
Professional Development Bureau. Chief Donnelly is
ing the Human Resources Division which
includes the Payroll and Compliance Offices, Professional Standards Division, Training Divisior
andthe Grants Office,
Chief Donnelly serves on numerous committees supporting regional and national preparedness,
including the International Association of Fire Chiefs Terrorism and Homeland Security
Committee, as the Executive Director ofthe National Capito! Region Securing the City Program,
and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Fire Chief's Committee.
A Ward 4 resident, Chief Donnelly spends his free time working with the Boy Scouts
of Troop 98
in Brookland.
 GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Executive Office ofMayor Muriel Bowser
x ok *
WE ARE
WASHINGTON
lI
Office ofthe General Counsel to the Mayor
To: Ronan Gulstone, Steve Walker
From: Betsy Cavendish
Date: September 8, 2020
Subject: Legal sufficiency review of Resolution nominating John Donnelly as the Chief of
the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department
This is to Certify that this oftice has reviewed the above-referenced legislation and
found it to be legally unobjectionable. If you have any questions in this regard, please do not
hesitate to call me at 202-724-7681.
Llyeren.A. Cabenioth
Elizabeth Cavendish
Saie Mi =Wishingian DC SiGnH > Otice(UD) ETAT