Congratulations to Assistant Chief David Lewis, Sr. (Ret.) of the Odenton (Maryland) Volunteer Fire Company for winning the prestigious John M. Buckman III Leadership Award. There were several strong submissions and his contributions to the fire service certainly stood out.
The John M. Buckman III Leadership Award, sponsored by Provident Insurance, recognizes a chief officer of a volunteer or combination fire department who excels on the local or regional level as a true professional who has demonstrated leadership, integrity, and outstanding values within the fire service.
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Assistant Chief David Lewis, Sr. (Ret.)
Assistant Chief Lewis joined the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company (OVFC) when he was 18 years old and is now a life member with 50 years of service. He has served in administrative and operational roles, rising to the rank of assistant chief on the operational side and president on the administrative side.
Craig Harman, president of OVFC, stated the following in his nomination, “Throughout his years of service, David has always put community first in defining the level of service needed to be successful as a volunteer fire company.”
Assistant Chief Lewis has also given back to the fire service on a regional, statewide, and national level. He has been involved with the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute, the National Volunteer Fire Council, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighters Association, Maryland State Firemen’s Association, the Maryland Fire Chiefs Association, the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association, and more. He has written several articles, conducted various trainings, helped with writing successful grants, and served on various committees on a local, national, and state level.
The award’s namesake, Chief John M. Buckman III stated, “Congratulations to Dave Lewis as VCOS recognizes his long-term commitment to the volunteer fire service. He has certainly made a significant difference in improving the professionalism of the volunteer fire service through his passion for instructing and in many other ways. I am honored for Dave to be receiving this award.”
Daren D’Ippolito, president and CEO of Provident commented, “On behalf of everyone at Provident, I would like to congratulate Assistant Chief Lewis on being selected as this year’s recipient of the John M. Buckman III Leadership Award. We applaud Assistant Chief Lewis’ steadfast service to his community and his contributions to the betterment of the fire service on a state, regional, and national level.”
The John M. Buckman III Leadership Award will be presented at the Symposium in the Sun held in Clearwater Beach, Florida, November 11-14. Please join us in congratulating Assistant Chief David Lewis, Sr. (Ret.) on winning this award. He is very deserving, and it is an honor for the International Association of Fire Chiefs’ Volunteer and Combination Officers Section and Provident Insurance to present it to him.
About the VCOS
The IAFC Volunteer and Combination Officers Section’s (VCOS) mission is to develop and enhance effective, professional leaders of the volunteer and combination fire service by providing tools, resources and representation to lead their organizations effectively. The VCOS vision is to be the leading volunteer/combination fire service organization in the United States, representing and educating leaders of the volunteer and combination fire/rescue service. For more information, visit IAFC.org/VCOS.
About Provident
Provident is a national provider of customized insurance programs for the emergency services with over 90 years of experience. Products include Property & Casualty, Accident & Health, Group Life, 24-Hour Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Critical Illness, and Cancer policies. Please visit us at https://www.providentins.com to learn more.