Chief Bruce Varner

Chief Varner began his fire service career with the Phoenix (AZ) Fire
Department in 1967, promoting to Deputy Chief in 1985. He has professional Fire Service experience through all ranks to the position of Fire Chief. Served as Fire Chief Carrollton, TX 1992 – 2004, Fire Chief Santa Rosa, CA 2004 – 2010.

He is experienced as a Program Manager, Instructor, Lecturer, member, and Chair of NFPA fire service standards committees. Named Fire Chief Magazine “Career Fire Chief of Year” – 2001. Received Chief Fire Officer Accreditation 2003, renewed 2007 and 2010. Retired from Santa Rosa Fire Department December 30, 2010. Post retirement includes instructor and consulting work, Principal at BHVarner & Associates.

He has previously served as an advisor to UCLA PHASER Team and an SME on the GLANSER project (DHS S&T Directorate projects) and member of the NFPA Protective Clothing and Equipment Project since 1985. In March 2009 team member for a study of fire services in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

In December 2011, received Blue Card Incident Commander and Instructor certification. Awarded Fellow grade membership in the Institution of Fire Engineers January 2012, and Companion Fellow by IFE Board of Directors in March 2016. In 2014 appointed to and participated in the National Academies of Science Panel on Review of the Engineering Laboratory at the NIST. FHWA (Federal Highway Administration) Master Instructor “Traffic Incident Management” Train the Trainer Program. Pro Board certified as Fire Department Incident Safety Officer and Fire Department Health Safety Officer. Instructor for HSO, ISO and PPE Technician. Principal organizer of IFE Asia-Pacific Forum 2016, San Diego, CA. Elected to IFE International Board Member and Trustee in 2017 and IFE International President for 2019 -2020. Holds OSHA General Industry Trainer Certification. Remains on the IFE International Board as immediate past president until November 2021. Is currently serving as Business Manager for the IFE-USA Branch and co-chair for Wingspread VII.

He can be reached at bruce@bhvarner.com and on Twitter @Chief1700.

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