About Us

Founder Bert Washington is an award-winning chief executive with a 27-year track record and reputation for inspirational leadership, operational excellence, and civic engagement. While he remains active in the fire service, Washington previously served as Fire Chief for the Pasadena Fire Department. He oversaw all fire prevention, administration and response services, including emergency medical services and high-profile special events such as the Tournament of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl Game. 

Under Chief Washington’s leadership, the Fire Department earned the prestigious Accredited Agency Status by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International and improved its Public Protection Classification to Insurance Services Office (ISO) Class 1. Each of these accomplishments have only been made by less than 1% of fire departments in the United States. Washington also led community engagement and disaster services planning as the Assistant Director of Disaster Services for the City and provided oversight of emergency dispatch services for 14 fire agencies.

Washington rose through the ranks of the Las Vegas Fire Department before he was appointed Fire Chief for the Clark County (NV) Fire Department. Clark County is the nation’s 12th largest county with the ninth busiest airport, the Las Vegas Strip, over 900,000 residents and 43 million visitors annually. During his administration, Chief Washington led the department to achieve the lowest average emergency response time performance in its history and lowest number of fire fatalities on record. He also led initiatives to hire and train diverse academies inclusive of women and other underrepresented groups.

Washington is committed to civic leadership and engagement. His visionary work and collaboration with local leaders helped earn voter support for the passage of a tax measure to maintain public safety services and upgrade fire stations. He also created the Pasadena Outreach Response Team, a partnership with the Public Health Department focused on transitioning homeless residents into housing. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Carl Holmes Executive Development Institute where he also instructs and completed its training program.

EDUCATION

Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government Executive Education, Senior Executives in State and Local Government

University of Nevada, Las Vegas Master of Public Administration

Howard University Bachelor of Arts, Political Science

College of Southern Nevada Associate of Applied Science, Fire Science Management

RECOGNITION

Chief Fire Officer Designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence

Metropolitan Fire Chief of the Year by the Black Chief Officers Committee

Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Letter of Appreciation

Best Educational Event FAME Award, Active Shooter Response Demonstration EMS World Expo

Fire Chiefs’ White House Roundtable, Climate Impacts on Wildland Urban Interface