ROBERT J. INGRAM
Executive Management
Strategy & Policy Development/ Leadership, Execution &Accountability/ Team Building & Partnership/ Innovation & Negotiation/Sustainment
Profile
Accomplished and results-driven manager in the public sector with a proven track record of working with private sector and volunteer organizations and other public agencies at the local, state, and federal levels to deliver better services to the public. Proven leader with the ability to recognize and guide key individuals and teams to achieve organizational goals. Accountable for service capability development by managing capital and federal grant funds totaling millions of dollars with 200 plus personnel in response, training, equipment maintenance and interagency planning positions. Core competencies include:
Current Employment:
Fire Department, City of New York 01/82 - Present
Battalion Chief, Special Operations Command, Hazardous Materials 09/00 – 09/07
WMD Branch Chief, Center for Terrorism & Disaster Preparedness 09/07 – Present
9 Metro Tech Center, Brooklyn, NY, 11201
Supervisor: Assistant Chief Joseph Pfeifer (718) 281-8484, contact me prior to contacting supervisor
As the FDNY WMD section chief I work regularly with numerous city, state, and federal agencies, multi-state transportation and maritime authorities to better prepare NYC, the region and the nation to prevent CBRNE events, respond to them safely and effectively, mitigate them and recover from them. I represent the fire and medical operation missions when developing coordinated response plans for the numerous agencies within NYC and those that will respond to NYC on CBRNE issues. Partnering, Leading Change, External Awareness, Political Savvy
My fire service career stretches over 42 years and has always included an awareness of external factors. I recognized early the changing environments firefighters were working in with more synthetic materials being used in daily life. My interest and education in hazardous materials safety began in the late seventies, well before the majority of public agencies, and became my mission as a charter member of the FDNY Hazardous Materials Company in 1984. Vision
I have been able to be a change leader in the evolving fire service at each promotional level I have held. As a new lieutenant I was given the mission to develop the FDNY’s hazardous materials training program at the Operations level. As a captain I was tasked with creating and developing the FDNY Technician level hazardous materials school. This included physical infrastructure, curriculum development, instructor selection and mentoring, medical surveillance, and sustaining these capabilities. In 1996 NYC’s Emergency Medical Services were merged into the FDNY. This was a challenging endeavor internally for our membership but the HazMat Division embraced this diversity issue recognizing the value added in providing a better service to the public. Leading Change, Problem Solving, Strategic Thinking, Leveraging Diversity, Team Building
As Executive Officer of the Hazardous Materials Division prior to September 11th, 2001, my mentor (Chief Jack Fanning) and I created and developed the FDNY strategy for the department’s Emergency Response Plan (ERP) dealing with WMD threats and became known as the “Tiered Response Program”. This innovation subsequently led to a national change in preparedness within the fire service and other disciplines and was institutionalized in NFPA hazardous materials standards as “Mission Specific” competencies. Vision, Strategic Thinking, Creativity and Innovation, Influencing
Our vision and strategy was multi-discipline, multi-jurisdiction. It included early work in 1996 with the Department of Defense and National Guard Bureau, sharing experience and knowledge in urban response in exchange for military research and development in CBRNE personal protection and detection technologies. This multi-level partnership was formalized by then Attorney General Janet Reno as the Inter Agency Board (IAB) in 1998 and continues to this day as an independent local and state voice identifying areas of concern in CBRNE preparedness. Partnering, Political Savvy, Influencing/Negotiating, Technical Credibility
As chair of the IAB from 2004-2009 I dealt with numerous disciplines and personalities, often forming coalitions to drive results and develop a prioritized list of multi-discipline gaps and requirements needing federal support for technical credibility in standards, research, and test methods. We remain focused to this day on the needs of the customer; the responder community. Early on we identified key leaders within the IAB to manage our efforts in CBRNE detection, medical countermeasures, training, standards, science & technology, and strategy to achieve the goals of the community. Partnering, Negotiating, Team Building & Consensus, Technology Management
Assigned the mission of rebuilding the FDNY HazMat Division after the September 11th attacks, my team and I were able to combine capital and federal grant funds effectively to not only restore the capabilities lost, but with a new vision and strategy. We developed a more resilient set of capabilities addressing the challenges of the national planning scenarios and our local priorities. This division commander’s role directly supervises over 200 personnel and has responsibility for initial and sustainment training for over 3,000 hazardous materials technical specialists in the FDNY. Team Building, Human Capital Management, Financial Management, Resilience
In 2007 recognizing the emerging CBRNE threats and adversaries I presented to the FDNY leadership the concept of a new position with a mission of developing stronger relationships with local, state, and federal partners. I have held this position of WMD Branch Chief in our Center for Terrorism and Disaster Preparedness since September of 2007. I have used the political savvy gained from my IAB experience to work more closely with federal agency representatives, providing a local perspective to CBRNE programs. The list of programs include: FEMA’s Strategic Foresight Initiative, DOT’s HazMat Fusion Center developed with the IAFC, NIJ’s PPE standards development for law enforcement CBRNE ensembles, DHS’s S&T First Responder Resource Group, the EPA’s E.O. 13650 Pilot on information sharing, and many others.
Vision, Strategic Thinking, Political Savvy, Information Sharing
My fire service career started in 1974 with the local volunteer on Long Island, NY. In addition to time as a line officer, I held a publicly elected position on the Board of Fire Commissioners for the Commack Fire District for 21 years. I have a strong understanding of the needs of both career and volunteer departments, and the challenges they face when dealing with the transportation of hazardous materials, the training and equipment needed, and the requests of commercial carriers to change current regulations, and the impact doing so will have on the fire services. Political Savvy, Negotiating, Creativity and Innovation, Conflict Management, Leveraging Diversity
I have been cleared for a DOE “L” security level since 2004, a DOE “Q” since 2009, and a DHS “S” since 2007.
Past Employment
RJI Associates, Principal Owner 1998 – Present
Hazardous Materials Response Preparedness
Negotiated profitable contracts with private sector business to deliver emergency response training courses that included both classroom and field components. Developed site specific course curriculum to meet the needs of the customer and provided student materials. Subcontracted instructors and developed a strong team delivering a strong program in emergency response and preparedness while managing expenses.
Entrepreneurship, Financial Management, Negotiation, Vision, Flexibility
Suffolk County, NY Fire Academy 1994 – 2003
Instructor, Lead Instructor
Hazardous Materials Response Training
Delivered Hazardous Materials Training to volunteer firefighters in Suffolk County, NY. The academy utilized a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the customers; volunteer firefighters with other full time careers. As Lead instructor supervised the revision and updating of the training curriculum and mentored other instructors in the expected delivery of the program materials and goals.
Team Building, Developing Others, Customer
Elected Fire Commissioner, Board of Fire Commissioners 1990 – 2011
Commack Fire District
Commack, NY
Managed an annual budget of 4 million dollars responsible for four stations, 20+ vehicles, 10 full time employees, and 15 part-time employees, a maintenance facility, training site, and 135 volunteer firefighters. Responsible for Personnel, established a medical program for both firefighters and career employees, developed a vehicle replacement program with varying life cycles, negotiated work contracts with five employees classifications, and managed hiring and disciplinary actions.
Vision, Strategic Thinking, Accountability, Human Capital Management, Conflict Management, Flexibility and Negotiation, Financial Management, Problem Solving
Career Achievements
Education
M.A., Homeland Defense & Security 2011
Naval Post Graduate School, CHDS
Monterey, CA
Executive Leadership Pilot Program 2007
Homeland Defense & Security
Naval Post Graduate School, CHDS
Monterey, CA
BPS, Fire & Emergency Management 2007
State University of New York, Empire College
Sarasota, NY
Affiliations
Information Sharing: Presentations and Training
Honors
Executive Management
Strategy & Policy Development/ Leadership, Execution &Accountability/ Team Building & Partnership/ Innovation & Negotiation/Sustainment
Profile
Accomplished and results-driven manager in the public sector with a proven track record of working with private sector and volunteer organizations and other public agencies at the local, state, and federal levels to deliver better services to the public. Proven leader with the ability to recognize and guide key individuals and teams to achieve organizational goals. Accountable for service capability development by managing capital and federal grant funds totaling millions of dollars with 200 plus personnel in response, training, equipment maintenance and interagency planning positions. Core competencies include:
- Creative & flexible solutions
- Team Builder
- Decisiveness in Crisis
- Negotiation
- Political Savvy
- Problem Solver
Current Employment:
Fire Department, City of New York 01/82 - Present
Battalion Chief, Special Operations Command, Hazardous Materials 09/00 – 09/07
WMD Branch Chief, Center for Terrorism & Disaster Preparedness 09/07 – Present
9 Metro Tech Center, Brooklyn, NY, 11201
Supervisor: Assistant Chief Joseph Pfeifer (718) 281-8484, contact me prior to contacting supervisor
As the FDNY WMD section chief I work regularly with numerous city, state, and federal agencies, multi-state transportation and maritime authorities to better prepare NYC, the region and the nation to prevent CBRNE events, respond to them safely and effectively, mitigate them and recover from them. I represent the fire and medical operation missions when developing coordinated response plans for the numerous agencies within NYC and those that will respond to NYC on CBRNE issues. Partnering, Leading Change, External Awareness, Political Savvy
My fire service career stretches over 42 years and has always included an awareness of external factors. I recognized early the changing environments firefighters were working in with more synthetic materials being used in daily life. My interest and education in hazardous materials safety began in the late seventies, well before the majority of public agencies, and became my mission as a charter member of the FDNY Hazardous Materials Company in 1984. Vision
I have been able to be a change leader in the evolving fire service at each promotional level I have held. As a new lieutenant I was given the mission to develop the FDNY’s hazardous materials training program at the Operations level. As a captain I was tasked with creating and developing the FDNY Technician level hazardous materials school. This included physical infrastructure, curriculum development, instructor selection and mentoring, medical surveillance, and sustaining these capabilities. In 1996 NYC’s Emergency Medical Services were merged into the FDNY. This was a challenging endeavor internally for our membership but the HazMat Division embraced this diversity issue recognizing the value added in providing a better service to the public. Leading Change, Problem Solving, Strategic Thinking, Leveraging Diversity, Team Building
As Executive Officer of the Hazardous Materials Division prior to September 11th, 2001, my mentor (Chief Jack Fanning) and I created and developed the FDNY strategy for the department’s Emergency Response Plan (ERP) dealing with WMD threats and became known as the “Tiered Response Program”. This innovation subsequently led to a national change in preparedness within the fire service and other disciplines and was institutionalized in NFPA hazardous materials standards as “Mission Specific” competencies. Vision, Strategic Thinking, Creativity and Innovation, Influencing
Our vision and strategy was multi-discipline, multi-jurisdiction. It included early work in 1996 with the Department of Defense and National Guard Bureau, sharing experience and knowledge in urban response in exchange for military research and development in CBRNE personal protection and detection technologies. This multi-level partnership was formalized by then Attorney General Janet Reno as the Inter Agency Board (IAB) in 1998 and continues to this day as an independent local and state voice identifying areas of concern in CBRNE preparedness. Partnering, Political Savvy, Influencing/Negotiating, Technical Credibility
As chair of the IAB from 2004-2009 I dealt with numerous disciplines and personalities, often forming coalitions to drive results and develop a prioritized list of multi-discipline gaps and requirements needing federal support for technical credibility in standards, research, and test methods. We remain focused to this day on the needs of the customer; the responder community. Early on we identified key leaders within the IAB to manage our efforts in CBRNE detection, medical countermeasures, training, standards, science & technology, and strategy to achieve the goals of the community. Partnering, Negotiating, Team Building & Consensus, Technology Management
Assigned the mission of rebuilding the FDNY HazMat Division after the September 11th attacks, my team and I were able to combine capital and federal grant funds effectively to not only restore the capabilities lost, but with a new vision and strategy. We developed a more resilient set of capabilities addressing the challenges of the national planning scenarios and our local priorities. This division commander’s role directly supervises over 200 personnel and has responsibility for initial and sustainment training for over 3,000 hazardous materials technical specialists in the FDNY. Team Building, Human Capital Management, Financial Management, Resilience
In 2007 recognizing the emerging CBRNE threats and adversaries I presented to the FDNY leadership the concept of a new position with a mission of developing stronger relationships with local, state, and federal partners. I have held this position of WMD Branch Chief in our Center for Terrorism and Disaster Preparedness since September of 2007. I have used the political savvy gained from my IAB experience to work more closely with federal agency representatives, providing a local perspective to CBRNE programs. The list of programs include: FEMA’s Strategic Foresight Initiative, DOT’s HazMat Fusion Center developed with the IAFC, NIJ’s PPE standards development for law enforcement CBRNE ensembles, DHS’s S&T First Responder Resource Group, the EPA’s E.O. 13650 Pilot on information sharing, and many others.
Vision, Strategic Thinking, Political Savvy, Information Sharing
My fire service career started in 1974 with the local volunteer on Long Island, NY. In addition to time as a line officer, I held a publicly elected position on the Board of Fire Commissioners for the Commack Fire District for 21 years. I have a strong understanding of the needs of both career and volunteer departments, and the challenges they face when dealing with the transportation of hazardous materials, the training and equipment needed, and the requests of commercial carriers to change current regulations, and the impact doing so will have on the fire services. Political Savvy, Negotiating, Creativity and Innovation, Conflict Management, Leveraging Diversity
I have been cleared for a DOE “L” security level since 2004, a DOE “Q” since 2009, and a DHS “S” since 2007.
Past Employment
RJI Associates, Principal Owner 1998 – Present
Hazardous Materials Response Preparedness
Negotiated profitable contracts with private sector business to deliver emergency response training courses that included both classroom and field components. Developed site specific course curriculum to meet the needs of the customer and provided student materials. Subcontracted instructors and developed a strong team delivering a strong program in emergency response and preparedness while managing expenses.
Entrepreneurship, Financial Management, Negotiation, Vision, Flexibility
Suffolk County, NY Fire Academy 1994 – 2003
Instructor, Lead Instructor
Hazardous Materials Response Training
Delivered Hazardous Materials Training to volunteer firefighters in Suffolk County, NY. The academy utilized a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the customers; volunteer firefighters with other full time careers. As Lead instructor supervised the revision and updating of the training curriculum and mentored other instructors in the expected delivery of the program materials and goals.
Team Building, Developing Others, Customer
Elected Fire Commissioner, Board of Fire Commissioners 1990 – 2011
Commack Fire District
Commack, NY
Managed an annual budget of 4 million dollars responsible for four stations, 20+ vehicles, 10 full time employees, and 15 part-time employees, a maintenance facility, training site, and 135 volunteer firefighters. Responsible for Personnel, established a medical program for both firefighters and career employees, developed a vehicle replacement program with varying life cycles, negotiated work contracts with five employees classifications, and managed hiring and disciplinary actions.
Vision, Strategic Thinking, Accountability, Human Capital Management, Conflict Management, Flexibility and Negotiation, Financial Management, Problem Solving
Career Achievements
- Strategically planned and managed the rebuilding of the FDNY Hazardous Materials Division after the September 11, 2001 attacks with a new vision, expanding from 650 personnel to 3,400 and combining mitigation and medical resources.
- Lead developer of the FDNY Chemical Protective Clothing response company program that transitioned into a national training program.
- FDNY Hazardous Materials/WMD Tiered Response concept has driven changes to national consensus standards, specifically NFPA 472’s “Mission Specific Competencies Chapter”.
- Established the FDNY's permanent Hazardous Materials Technician School in 1997. Participants go beyond our firefighters and medical technicians to include: military units, utility personnel, health professionals, NGB personnel, LE, environmental responders, and others for HazMat/CBRNE response.
- Co-chaired with NYC's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene the development of New York City's Radiological Response and Recovery Plan for RDDs.
- Chaired the Inter Agency Board (IAB) for four years coordinating efforts between local, state, and federal agencies across the top ten DHS recognized disciplines in support of CBRNE grant guidance, R&D efforts, training, operating equipment, command, communications and medical issues.
- Participated in most NYC full scale and tabletop exercise and special events planning since 1996
- Observer and evaluator for two NLE (Top Off) events with a specific focus on all responder actions.
- Logistics Officer for FEMA’s NYC US&R Task Force 1 until shortly after September 11th, 2001
- FEMA working group member for IND issues in Response & Communications
- DOT PHMSA and IAFC Advisory Board member for the “HazMat Fusion Center” Program
- DHS S&T working group member for Bio detection, First Responder Response Group and Standard development activities
- NCRP working group member for NCRP Report 165, Initial Decisions for Incident Commanders in an IND incident.
- DHS S&T/AOAC working group member for the Stakeholders Panel for Agent Detection Assays (SPADA) working to develop “Official Methods of Testing” for Laboratory and Hand Held Detection equipment.
- IAFC Hazardous Materials Committee representative to the Next Gen Rail Car Program working to develop a stronger, safer Chlorine Tank Car.
- Invited VIP Observer for the DHS S&T funded Jack Rabbit II Chlorine Tank Car Testing.
- Regularly prepare and deliver national and interagency program briefs to NYC agency heads.
- Presented a briefing to the Senates’ Science & Technology committee on PPE issues resulting from the WTC attack and responder personnel.
Education
M.A., Homeland Defense & Security 2011
Naval Post Graduate School, CHDS
Monterey, CA
Executive Leadership Pilot Program 2007
Homeland Defense & Security
Naval Post Graduate School, CHDS
Monterey, CA
BPS, Fire & Emergency Management 2007
State University of New York, Empire College
Sarasota, NY
Affiliations
- Principle member, IAFC Hazardous Materials Committee, 2009 to present
- Principle member, NFPA, 1998 to present, 472 Standard; “Competencies for Hazardous Materials Response”
- Member, past chair, Inter Agency Board (IAB), 1998 to present, Strategic Planning Sub Group
- Committee for Report 165, NCRP, 2007 to 2009. Response guidance for Improvised Nuclear Detonations
- Radiological and Biological Response Standards, ASTM, 2005 to present, Committee member and reviewer for RAD and BIO response guidance
- Advisory Board Member LE CBRNE PPE Standards, National Institute of Justice, 2007 to 2009
- Member DHS FRRG since its inception working on command and standards issues.
- Member State and Local committee, DHS DNDO, 2007 to present, "Secure the Cities" Protection Prevention Mission and coordination
Information Sharing: Presentations and Training
- National Master Instructor, International Association of Fire Fighters, National, 1994 to present, Hazardous materials, WMD, Confined Space, Chemical Process Safety and others
- CBRNE & HazMat Topics for National Presentations 2000 to present including: Fire Department Instructors Conference, Firehouse Exposition, Midwest Planning Conference, Continuing Challenge-CA HazMat conference, DHS/DOD CBRNE Conferences,
- CBRNE Topics; International Presentations, 2005 to present, Presentations on CBRNE/HazMat Response and CBRNE equipment standards in Israel, UK and Brazil.
Honors
- "Chief Al Nemecek Instructor Excellence" Award, Suffolk County, NY Fire Academy, 1997. Served as a Deputy Chief Instructor from 1994 until 2003
- “G. William Morgan Lecturer” Award for contributions and presentation on Radiological Incident Response, Health Physics Society, 2010
- “Hazardous Materials Level A” Award for contributions to the hazardous materials and emergency responder community, International Association of Fire Chiefs, Hazardous Materials Committee, 2011
- “John Eversole Lifetime Achievement Award” for contributions to the hazardous materials and emergency response community, International Association of Fire Chiefs, Hazardous Materials Committee, 2016