KEVIN R. KLEIN
Louisville, Colorado
Experience:
Colorado Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire Safety -- 2006 - Present
Director. Manage and direct the Division. Report to the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Safety. Responsible for developing solutions to fire safety-related problems that are common to local, state and federal governmental units, and advising the Governor and General Assembly regarding fire safety and emergency management.
Responsible for managing the Division's broad statutory responsibilities and regulatory authority in order to reduce the incidence of fire, fire-related deaths and injuries, and property loss in Colorado. Programs include: the training and certification of firefighters, medical first responders, and hazardous materials responders; regulating fire suppression systems, system installers and system inspectors; regulating the sales and use of fireworks; and enforcing fire and life safety codes in public schools, junior colleges and casinos.
Provide state level emergency management functions including Command and General Staff actions during disaster emergencies, management of the State's Emergency Resource Mobilization Plan and administration of the State's Resource Ordering and Status System. The Division is also responsible for the State's fire and search and rescue emergency support functions.
Represent the Division and the Department at media events concerning fire safety, at press conferences during emergencies, and through responses to media inquires.
Interface with the federal government as the Colorado approving authority for the Federal Hotel Motel Safety Act and the National Fire Academy; the co-point of contact for the National Incident Management System Integration Center; and the collection point for the National Fire Incident Reporting System.
Colorado State Fire Chiefs' Association -- 1998-2006
Executive Director. Responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Association. Provided member services, research, financial management and oversight of special projects. Responsible for membership communications. Actively worked with both the Executive and Legislative branches of Colorado's state government and represented the Association in dealings with Colorado's Congressional Delegation. Coordinated lobbying efforts and provide testimony on public safety policy issues. Represented the Association to the public through press releases, television appearances and responses to media inquiries. Accomplishments include:
| Successfully championed legislation to improve fire safety in Colorado's public schools and junior colleges |
| Represented the Association in Colorado's State Emergency Resource Mobilization Plan and resource typing efforts, the State's incident management team development efforts, and the effort to develop the State's Preparedness and Security regions |
| Spearheaded coordinating the Association's efforts with its partners in public safety: Colorado's police chiefs and county sheriffs |
| Tripled the Association's membership |
| Developed the Association's web site and electronic communications system |
| Performed a legislative analysis on fire safety in the State of Colorado |
Public Safety Consultants -- 1995-2006
Owner and Public Safety Consultant. Consulting for international, state and local public safety agencies. Projects include economic, policy and legislative analysis; municipal fire service master planning, fire department management, public safety doctrine development, lobbying, campaign management, expert witness service, and grant writing. Accomplishments include:
| Performed several comprehensive public safety master planning, facility, staffing, and equipment analyses |
| Developed a special detail staffing plan for the City of Denver Fire Department |
| Managed several tax initiative political campaigns |
| Conducted a joint police and fire department staffing and facility analysis |
| Developed geographic information systems approach for ambulance response times |
| Instituted development impact fee programs |
| Taught public safety doctrine development for the Republic of the Philippines |
Cherryvale Fire Protection District, Boulder, CO. 1981-1994 Fire Chief and Chief Financial Officer (1986-1994). Responsible to an elected Board of Directors for fire prevention, fire suppression, emergency medical and rescue services, and hazardous materials control in 55 square miles of industrial, suburban, rural, and wildland territory in Boulder and Jefferson counties and the Town of Superior. Also responsible for financial, human resources and capital assets management. The district operated out of four fire stations, providing services to a rapidly growing population. Accomplishments include:
" Proposed and implemented a residential fire sprinkler life safety program " Negotiated and implemented intergovernmental agreements concerning service and annexations with surrounding communities " Coordinated two successful tax initiatives for the district; one for a capital improvements bond issue and the other for an operating mill levy increase " Instituted semi-automatic external defibrillator program, paid for by grants " Served on the Boulder County Overhead Team for wildland fire incident management
Assistant to the Fire Chief, Deputy Chief, Captain, Fire Fighter (1981-1986) " Designed and implemented the district's emergency medical services program, which was used as a model by other Boulder County fire departments
Professional Ambulance Service, Longmont, Colorado 1985-1990 Paramedic (part-time). Advanced life support emergency ambulance service
Education:
Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Master of Public Administration, 1995. Concentration in public management. Course work included applied economics, statistics, policy analysis, labor relations, negotiations, organizational management, and political analysis of legislative bodies.
University of Colorado, Boulder, BA, Psychology, 1991. Additional course work in human resources management at the School of Business and limited graduate level neuropharmacology at the Institute of Behavioral Genetics.
Selected Certificate Courses: Fire Fighter II Paramedic NIMS courses Fire Suppression Systems Inspector Hazardous Materials Technician NWCG (Wildland Fire) courses National Fire Academy -- Executive Development and Strategic Management of Change as part of the Executive Fire Officer Program
Appointments and Awards:
Executive appointment from Governor Roy Romer to the Colorado Commission on Fire Prevention and Control Appointment to the Colorado Trauma System Task Force, created by the General Assembly to develop a statewide trauma care system Certificate of Commendation from the Senate of the Colorado State Legislature for work on the Colorado Trauma System Task Force Outstanding Service Award from the Cherryvale Fire Protection District in 1983, 1987 and 1990
Publications:
Editorial Board Member and Contributor, Best Practices in Emergency Services (formerly Fire Economics), current "Decision trees can give firm roots to rescue policies," Fire Chief, February 2001. "A Five Point Plan for a Fire Safe Colorado," Colorado State Fire Chiefs' Association, 1997. "All in the Family, The Ethics of Mandatory Prehospital Resuscitation," Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government Case Program, 1998. (Published under the pseudonym 'David Moorhead' by Kenneth Winston.) "Employee Assistance Programs for Volunteer Fire Fighters: Colorado's Experience," National Fire Academy, August 1993. "Re-examination of Critical Incident Stress Debriefing In the Fire Service In 1990; Where It Is Today," National Fire Academy, May 1990.
Boards Served On:
Member, Colorado Emergency Planning Commission (statutory position, current) Member, Colorado State Fire Chiefs' Association (current) Chair, Colorado Trauma Care Preservation Coalition Director, Boulder Regional Fire Training Center Director, Boulder County Hazardous Materials Response Team Member, Boulder Regional Communications Center Problem Solving Task Force Member, Boulder County Paramedics President, Front Range Skydivers, Inc.