PRESS RELEASE
To: NEWSROOM For Immediate Release
Contact: Brian Crawford, 673-6652, or 455-2609

September 21, 2006 - Cochran Sworn-in as International Association of Fire Chief’s Vice President

High profile role will put Shreveport fire chief at the table with President and Congress

Shreveport Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran has officially been sworn in as the 2^nd Vice President for the International Association of Fire Chief at the organization’s annual conference in Dallas, Texas. Cochran will serve as 2^nd vice president for one year and ascend to 1^st vice president in ’07 and finally become president of the 13,000 member fire executive association in 2008.

The IAFC plays a critical role in the development, implementation, and support of national policies and strategies that effect fire departments and their members, including critical Homeland Security issues. The position is high profile and will cast the popular Louisiana fire chief onto the national stage. IAFC presidents regularly meet with and appear before Congress, and from time to time, even have audience with the President and his staff when issues and bills relative to the fire service are being reviewed.

Regarding the election of Chief Cochran, current IAFC President Chief James Harmes of Grand Blanc, Michigan said the following: “We are expecting great things from Chief Cochran as he joins the administrative staff of IAFC. His experience, hard work, and dedication to the fire service at a local, state, and national level has demonstrated his commitment to firefighters of this country as well as the communities they protect. Chief Cochran’s character, heart and the respect he commands are his greatest assets and will serve IAFC well, just as they have served Shreveport.”

Among past IAFC presidents is new FEMA Director R. David Paulison. Before being appointed to his new post as the head of the Nation’s response agency to natural and manmade disasters, Paulison, then fire chief for Miami-Dade (Fl.) Fire Rescue, served as president of IAFC from 1996-97. Paulison was selected to head the U.S. Fire Administration in 2001 by President Bush.