Ivan Browning

Background

About Ivan Browning

I am currently a Fire/Rescue Battalion Chief assigned to the Special Operations Section in Montgomery County,MD. The county as a whole has over 1 million residents and approximately 100 square miles. The department borders Washington D.C and incorporates emergency responses to all hazard emergencies including high rises, major interstates, federal facilities, hospitals, the WMATA Metro system, Potomac River and other residential, commercial and industrial sites. My fire service position has me assigned as the Hazardous Materials Battalion Chief. I have responsibilities of program management for our Hazardous Materials Response Team, sUAS program, Planning Section and the Fire Representatives at our County Emergency Operations Center. I liaison with our County Police partners and oversee the Fire/Rescue response with police SWAT and Emergency Services Unit along with coordinating assistance to federal law enforcement agencies operating in our jurisdiction. All of these items require managing administrative, training, logistics and response aspects of the teams. An additional duty of my assignment is Special Event planning for the department and assisting other agencies in planning activities. I oversee Incident Action Plan development and implementation for events such as Presidential and other VIP visits, planned 1st amendment activities, large scale events such as the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair, large running/biking races and other sporting events along with ceremonial events such as firefighter funerals. In addition to my special operations assignment, I continue to work as a field battalion chief and respond to significant incidents, perform incident command duties and mentor firefighters and fire officers. I am experienced with volunteer fire department operations in Carroll County, MD where I rose through the ranks to Fire Chief and currently serve on the board of directors. My position required oversight of all department operations including volunteer, part-time and full-time career personnel. Lastly, I also volunteer my time with the MCFF Pipes and Drums and honorably serve as the Pipe Major for the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Pipes and Drums overseeing approximately 200 pipers and drummers. Away from work I am a family man with a wife and two sons. I remain active playing ice hockey and coach my son’s ice hockey team. My goal is to finish my career with Montgomery County Fire/Rescue and pursue a Fire Chief position or Hazardous Materials positions in other fire departments or the civilian Hazmat industry.