In partnership with Pierce Manufacturing Inc., the International Association of Fire Chiefs announced the 2026 IAFC Fire Chief of the Year honorees at Fire-Rescue International in Kansas City

APPLETON, Wis. — The 2026 International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Fire Chief of the Year honorees were announced at this year’s Fire-Rescue International (FRI) conference in Kansas City, Missouri, Pierce Manufacturing announced in a press release.

Volunteer Fire Chief Gail Schmidt of the Rockerville Volunteer Fire Department in Rapid City, South Dakota, and Career Fire Chief Amy Ramon of the Cy-Fair Fire Department in Texas were named as the 2026 award recipients.

Since 1996, the IAFC has annually recognized one volunteer and one career fire chief, with nominees evaluated on leadership, innovation, professional development, integrity, public service and contributions to the fire service.

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“We are honored to recognize Chief Schmidt and Chief Ramon, two exceptional leaders who have dedicated their careers to strengthening the fire service and protecting the people they serve,” Pierce Manufacturing president Marty Bass said. “Their accomplishments reflect the very best of fire service leadership which includes vision, integrity, resilience and a deep commitment to their teams and communities. Pierce Manufacturing is privileged to join the IAFC in celebrating these two remarkable chiefs and the lasting impact of their service.”

Volunteer Fire Chief Honoree: Gail Schmidt, Rockerville (S.D.) Volunteer Fire Department

Chief Gail Schmidt has served in the volunteer fire service for more than 30 years and has led the all-volunteer Rockerville Volunteer Fire Department since 2014. Her work has focused on operational readiness, firefighter health and safety, professional development and regional cooperation across Pennington County and the Black Hills.

Schmidt led a multi-year effort to improve water access in the department’s rural response area, resulting in a 60,000-gallon storage system and a hydrant capable of delivering 600 gallons per minute at the main station. She also helped secure more than $915,000 in grant funding to replace outdated radios and pagers and improve communications among Pennington County emergency agencies.

Her work has also touched on firefighter physical and behavioral health programs, regional training and specialized search and rescue. In 2019, Schmidt spent 65 operational days and traveled more than 750 miles on foot while assisting in the search for a missing 9-year-old child.

Career Fire Chief Honoree: Amy Ramon, Cy-Fair (Texas) Fire Department

Chief Amy Ramon has led the Cy-Fair Fire Department since 2014, overseeing its growth from a primarily volunteer organization, with four of 13 stations providing 24-hour fire suppression coverage, into one of the nation’s largest combination fire departments. The department now serves nearly 600,000 residents and continues to expand staffing, facilities and emergency response capabilities.

Ramon also expanded firefighter health and wellness programs, including counseling and behavioral health services that reached more than 54% utilization, as well as cancer screening initiatives aimed at early detection.

Beyond Cy-Fair, she has held leadership roles in regional and statewide fire service organizations, mentored future fire service leaders and advocated for firefighter health, safety and sustainable emergency services.

Schmidt and Ramon were recognized for their leadership, decades of service and efforts to improve firefighter health, safety and emergency response capabilities within their departments and the broader fire service.

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