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Garry Briese has announced his retirement effective January 2025 after 11+ years serving as the Executive Director of the Colorado State Fire Chiefs, “Garry’s dedication and commitment to the Colorado fire service, its leaders, and the communities we serve is unparalleled,” said CSFC President Brad White, Fire Chief of Grand Fire Protection District.
Chief White continued “His tireless work has not only helped fire chiefs gain a voice in the legislative process but has also secured funding that will benefit fire protection districts for generations. Beyond his legislative work, Garry’s visionary leadership has positioned CSFC as one of the strongest state associations in the country, and he leaves the organization in a strong position for continued success.”
Under Garry’s guidance and leadership, CSFC has become a powerful voice for Colorado’s fire departments and fire protection districts, particularly in the legislative arena. His advocacy efforts have resulted in significant gains for fire service funding and legislative victories. Notably, in 2023, Garry played a pivotal role in securing 100% priority backfill for Colorado’s fire protection districts, totaling approximately $30 million in funding.
This was followed in 2024 when the General Assembly passed legislation authorizing fire protection districts to collect sales tax, impact fees and charge additional fees for other services provided.
Most recently, Garry worked closely with fire chiefs across the state to ensure their needs were addressed by state government, leading to the passage of House Bill 24B-1001. The bill, signed by Governor Polis, will identify new critical budget solutions for the long-term fiscal sustainability of Colorado’s fire protection districts.
Throughout his tenure, Garry fostered key partnerships, including with the Colorado Professional Fire Fighters and the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control. His work resulted in first-in-the-nation collaboration of all three organizations working together to host Fire Leadership Challenge, the annual conference held in Keystone, CO. Under Garry’s guidance, the conference grew substantially, and in 2024, CSFC launched its own Leadership Certificate Program and hosted the inaugural meeting of Executive Directors from state fire chiefs’ organizations.
He serves as one of four independent directors on the corporate Board of Directors of WS Darley Company, a 116-year-old family-owned business founded in 1908. In 2024, Darley had more than $1 Billion in sales as an international pump and fire apparatus manufacturer and distributor for the military, fire and emergency services. Garry is the chair of the Financial Review/Audit Committee.
He was Senior Advisor to the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, current member of the Board of the International Association of Fire Chief’s Foundation, current member of the Editorial Advisory Board of FireRescue1/Fire Chief (a leading digital communications company) and former member of the Board of the Colorado Emergency Preparedness Partnership, working with the private sector to increase business disaster resiliency. Garry served on the State of Colorado’s Homeland Security and All-Hazards Senior Advisory Committee for five years.
Garry was the Local Program Integrator for the Wide Area Recovery and Resiliency Program (WARRP) for the Denver Urban Area Security Initiative. The $14 million, 2-year program developed the first all-hazard wide area recovery framework in the nation and completed and transitioned ten significant science and technology research projects for chemical, biological and radiological response, and recovery.
He was appointed as the Regional Administrator for Region 8 of the Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency in the administration of President George W. Bush. Prior to DHS/FEMA, he was Vice President, Emergency Management & Homeland Security for ICF International, a $1.5 billion NASDAQ-listed professional services corporation.
Previously Garry served for 23 years as the Executive Director/CEO of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) in Washington DC and prior was the Executive Director/CEO of the Florida College of Emergency Physicians for 14 years.
Garry has presented at conferences in Japan, Israel, Germany, Belgium, Brazil, Sweden, Canada, the United Kingdom and across the United States. He is a well-known speaker on leadership and followership and on future challenges for both the private and government sectors. He has broad experience in non-profit organizations and for-profit companies in local, state, national, federal, and international domains.
His visionary and forward-thinking leadership and accomplishments have been recognized by multiple international and national organizations including receiving the:
- Congressional Fire Services Institute’s prestigious Mason Lankford Fire Service Award
- IAFC’s Emergency Medical Services Section’s James O Page EMS Achievement Award
- Firefighter Cancer Support Network’s Dallas Jones Memorial Award
- National Association of State Fire Marshals’ Norman Mineta Excellence in Transportation Safety Award
- National Association for Search & Rescue’s Lois Clark McCoy Service Award
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IAFC Health & Safety Section Safety established the “Garry Briese IAFC Safety Performance Award” to “recognize both organizations and individuals who have made significant contributions to the overall environment of health and safety in their organizations or the fire service”
- Garry was the 112th person inducted into the National Fire Heritage Center’s “Hall of Legends, Legacies and Leaders” spanning the 237-year history of the American fire service. He was recognized as a “Fire Service Thought Leader and Change Agent.”
In 2023, the Colorado State Fire Chiefs created “The Garry Briese Lifetime Achievement Award” to be presented ‘to a fire professional who has made a positive lasting impact on the Colorado fire service and beyond.' Garry was the first recipient followed in 2024 by Mike Rogers, former President of the Colorado Professional Fire Fighters.
Garry conceived and wrote, with review and assistance from others, the landmark booklet, “Taking Action Against Cancer in the Fire Service” with more than 500,000 copies distributed via print and electronic media.
He contributed to the National Academy of Sciences report on Public Response to Alerts and Warnings on Mobile Devices, conceived and developed the National Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System and established the IAFF/IAFC Labor Management Relations Fire Service Leadership Partnership Program among many other significant initiatives and programs.
Garry’s fire service experience began in 1968 when he joined and served with the Wesconnett VFD (which became Jacksonville FD Station #25); North Hillsborough VFD (which became Hillsborough County State #14); Killarney FPD (which became Orange County FD Station 41) and Pinecastle FPD (which became Orange County FD Station 52).
While at Killarney FPD, and working in collaboration with two other firefighters, Garry established the “Carbuster Extrication Team” which fundamentally changed and improved vehicle extrication techniques and patient treatment via direct training and video tapes shared around the world.
Chief White noted “Garry’s impact on the fire service in Colorado and beyond is immeasurable. His legacy of leadership, advocacy, and collaboration will continue to shape the fire service for years to come.”
As Garry prepares for the future, CSFC is grateful for his leadership and looks forward to continuing the work he started, building on the solid foundation he has established for the organization and the fire service in Colorado.
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