Pierce Manufacturing has announced the recipients of the 2026 International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Fire Chief of the Year awards.
Volunteer Fire Chief Gail Schmidt of Rockerville Volunteer Fire Department in Rapid City, South Dakota, and Career Fire Chief Amy Ramon of Cy Fair Fire Department in Houston, Texas, were presented with the awards during Fire Rescue International in Kansas City, Missouri.
Since 1996, the IAFC has annually recognised one volunteer and one career fire chief for outstanding service. Nominations are assessed on leadership, innovation, professional development, integrity, public service and contributions to the fire service.
Marty Bass, President of Pierce Manufacturing, said: “We are honoured to recognise Chief Schmidt and Chief Ramon, two exceptional leaders who have dedicated their careers to strengthening the fire service and protecting the people they serve.
“Their accomplishments reflect the very best of fire service leadership which include 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.”
Gail Schmidt recognised
Chief Gail Schmidt has spent more than three decades in the volunteer fire service 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 collaboration across Pennington County and the Black Hills region.
Among her achievements was leading a multi year project to address unreliable water supplies within the department’s rural response district. The resulting district owned system includes 60,000 gallons of storage and a hydrant capable of delivering 600 gallons per minute at the department’s main station.
Schmidt also led a regional grant initiative that secured more than $915,000, representing over $1 million in equipment value, to replace obsolete radios and pagers and improve interoperability between emergency response agencies.
Firefighter wellbeing prioritised
Schmidt has also supported firefighter physical and behavioural health, advanced mental health provision for volunteer firefighters in South Dakota and developed regional training programmes.
Her specialised search and rescue work included the extensive 2019 search for a missing 9-year-old child. Schmidt committed 65 operational days and travelled more than 750 miles on foot during the search effort.
Amy Ramon recognised
Chief Amy Ramon has more than three decades of fire service experience and has served as fire chief of Cy Fair Fire Department since 2014.
During her leadership, Cy Fair has developed from a primarily volunteer organisation, with only four of 13 stations providing 24-hour fire suppression coverage, into one of the largest combination fire departments in Texas and the United States.
The department now serves nearly 600,000 residents and continues to expand its staffing, infrastructure and emergency response capabilities.
Health programmes expanded
Ramon introduced a comprehensive mental health programme offering counselling and proactive behavioural health resources, which has achieved more than 54% utilisation.
She has also prioritised comprehensive cancer screening initiatives designed to support early detection and address firefighters’ elevated occupational cancer risks.
Her leadership has focused on accountability, professional development, operational excellence and support for firefighters, paramedics, staff and their families.
Ramon’s influence also extends to regional and statewide fire service organisations, leadership development and advocacy for firefighter health, safety and sustainable emergency services. She is a previous Texas Fire Chief of the Year honouree.
The IAFC said the selection of Schmidt and Ramon recognises their individual achievements and the lasting impact of their leadership on the fire service.
