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Corporate Officers

Chief Joe Cunningham

President

Deputy Chief Joseph M Cunningham is a 27 Year veteran of the fire service join the Gloucester City Fire Department, Station 54 in June 1986.

After serving 2 years with Gloucester City he resigned to join the US Army and then served with the NJ Army National Guard,retiring with 21 years of service to his country.

Chief Cunningham joined the Delran Fire Department in 1993. Working his way through the ranks of all of the line officer positions, he was named as the Chief of the Delran Fire Department in January 2014 and served a three-year term ending in December of 2017. He currently holds the rank of The Deputy Chief/Administrative Chief of the Delran Fire Department.

Chief Cunningham has received awards for his service to the community, has served on numerous committees within the department and county and was instrumental in securing a FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant for the Delran Fire Department.

Chief Cunningham joined the Burlington County Fire ChiefsAssociation in January 2008 and currently serves as a Pipeline Leader in the county. Chief Cunningham joined the International Association of Fire Chiefs in 2013 and became New Jersey Director of the Eastern Division of Fire Chiefs in 2018.

Email: jcunningham@ediafc.com

Chief Joe Fahd

1st Vice President

Chief Fahd’s career in the fire service began approximately 53 years ago with the City of Albany Fire Department. Joe joined the ranks of the Albany Fire Department in 1966 as a firefighter. He began his journey through the ranks becoming Lieutenant in 1974, Captain in 1982 and Deputy Chief in 1994. Retiring from the department after 35 years of dedicated service in 2002.

While Captain of the Albany Fire Department Chief Fahd obtained an Associates degree in Fire Science from Corning Community College, Joe is also a graduate of the National Fire Academy in Emmetsburg Maryland completing the Executive Fire Officer Program.

Shortly after retirement Chief Fahd realized his story was not yet complete and became Chief of the Cohoes Fire Department in 2003, still serving the City of Cohoes today.

Chief Fahd has served in many capacities in different organizations related to the Fire and Emergency Medical Service. Chief Fahd is a life member of the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs and served on the EMS committee and the Paid Officer’s committee of this organization. Is a current member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs currently serving as 1st Vic president of the Eastern Division of the IAFC moving to President in 2019. Chief Fahd is also a past president of the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs.

Chief Fahd was recently appointed to the Governor’s Fire Advisory Board of the Office of Fire Prevention and Control. In 2012 Fahd was named Career Fire Chief of the Year by the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs.

Chief Fahd serves as the Chief Deputy in the office of the Albany County Fire Coordinator a position he has held for over twenty years.

In his spare time Chief Fahd enjoys traveling with his wife of 52 years and following his 3 children 5 granddaughters and 2 great granddaughters through their life’s adventures.

Joseph M. Fahd ,CFO, EFO,EMT-B

Fire Chief-Emergency Manager,Director of Codes

City of Cohoes Fire Department,

Past President & NY Director, Eastern Division IAFC

Past President New York State Association

of Fire Chiefs

172 Ontario Street
Cohoes, NY 12047
518-237-1472
518-237-1494 - Fax
jfahd@ci.cohoes.ny.us
http://www.ci.cohoes.ny.us

Email: jfahd@ediafc.com

Chief David Nelson

2nd Vice President

David Nelson, AAS in Fire Science, Fire Chief, Whitehall Bureau of Fire

Chief Nelson started his fire service in 1987 in Crescent, Ia. volunteer fd working his way to Rescue Captain. Then moving to Gretna, Ne. as the vice president and a firefighter with Gretna, fd. Chief Nelson joined the U.S. Army and was stationed with the 101st. Airborne as a heavy weapons squad leader. Where he was awarded the Army Commendation medal for stabilizing a fellow soldier having a medical problem.

After leaving the military Chief Nelson worked as a Firefighter/ Paramedic until being promoted to Lieutenant for Horry County Fire Rescue a metropolitan size department located in Myrtle Beach, SC. After spending 11 years with HCFR, Chief Nelson took the position as Director of Emergency Services for Emmaus, Pa. Chief Nelson then took the job as Fire Chief for Whitehall Township, Pa. where he has been since 2016.

Chief Nelson has been a member of the IAFC since 2016 where he is a member of the Eastern division, VCOS as well as the EFO. Some additional service he is involved in are the Pennsylvania Career Fire Chiefs Association where he currently serves as the secretary. The Lehigh County Fire Chiefs Association where he is a director on the board there. Chief Nelson is an advocate for the promotion of the fire service in the state. Chief Nelson is working toward completing his bachelor’s degree in Fire Management and then obtaining his CFO and EFO.

Email: dnelson@ediafc.com

Chief Paul Sullivan, Jr.

Immediate Past President

Email: psullivan@ediafc.com

Executive Director & Marketing Director

Chief Jon Townley

Executive Director

Position(s): Executive Director
Email: jtownley@ediafc.com
Phone: (302) 353-7798

Email: jtownley@ediafc.com

Shortly after retirement Chief Fahd realized his story was not yet complete and became Chief of the Cohoes Fire Department in 2003, still serving the City of Cohoes today.

Chief Fahd serves as the Chief Deputy in the office of the Albany County Fire Coordinator a position he has held for over twenty years.

In his spare time Chief Fahd enjoys traveling with his wife of 52 years and following his 3 children 5 granddaughters and 2 great granddaughters through their life’s adventures.

Joseph M. Fahd ,CFO, EFO,EMT-B

Fire Chief-Emergency Manager,Director of Codes

City of Cohoes Fire Department,

Past President & NY Director, Eastern Division IAFC

Past President New York State Association

of Fire Chiefs

172 Ontario Street
Cohoes, NY 12047
518-237-1472
518-237-1494 - Fax
jfahd@ci.cohoes.ny.us
http://www.ci.cohoes.ny.us

Email: jfahd@ediafc.com

International Director

Chief James Yates

International Director

Following his retirement from West Windsor Fire & Emergency Services as Chief after 35 years of service, Jim returned to his volunteer fire company that he joined in 1970 and continues to serve the community he grew up in, as Chief of Training & Firefighter Health, training volunteer members and advocating for firefighter health especially, cancer awareness.

Chief Yates is active in several fire service organizations, including: International Association of Fire Chiefs since 1986, New Jersey Career Fire Chiefs Association, New Jersey Fire Chiefs Association, New Jersey State Fireman’s Association - Life Member, Mercer County Fire Prevention Association, Lawrence Road Volunteer Fire Company - Life Member, Lawrence Township Firemen’s Relief Association – Secretary.

Jim has served in many capacities in his career, including: Section Chief – Mercer County Regional HazMat Team, Mercer County Deputy Fire Coordinator,President Eastern Division IAFC 2018-2019, Mercer County Fire Prevention Association – Charter Member, Assistant Professor - Fire Science Programs, Mercer County Community College, Trenton, NJ.

Prior to selection as an International Director, Chief Yates served as Treasurer on the Board of Directors, Global Public Safety Solutions (GPSS),

Jim has an Associate Degree in Fire Science, is a graduate of National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer (EFO) program and is a Chief Fire Officer Designee (CFO), Commission on Professional Credentialing. Jim lives with his wife Ann in Yardley, PA.

Email: jyatescfo@gmail.com