Deputy Chief Dave Piper

David Piper is a 30-year veteran of the Fire and EMS service.  He began his career with the Peotone Fire Protection District 1992 as a volunteer.  He retired from Peotone in 2017 as a Battalion Chief, Paramedic.  During his 30-year career, he has worked part-time for various departments, served as an EMT and Paramedic for a private ambulance.  He began his full-time career as a contract Firefighter/Paramedic for the New Lenox Fire Protection District before being hired by the Lemont Fire Protection District in 1994.   Dave was hired on with the Orland Fire Protection District in 1997.  He moved up through the ranks including Training Officer and retired as Operations Battalion Chief in 2020. Dave currently serves as Manhattan Fire Protection District Deputy Chief.

 

Dave was instrumental in the development of the standardize incident command training used throughout MABAS Division 19 and throughout the region.  Dave was one of the founding members of the Orland Fire Protection District Incident Command Training center that has trained over 1500 commanders across the country.  

 

Dave was deployed to Calhoun County floods in Hardin Illinois with the MABAS 19 Water Rescue Team.  During the deployment Dave was part of the team to develop local relationships and coordinate humanitarian aid, EMS service, and rescue efforts with Illinois Task Force 1 and Illinois National Guard.  The command structure and relationships built during the deployment were the foundation for the deployments.

 

Dave graduated from Kankakee Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Applied science and a certificate in Paramedic Supervision.  He earned a bachelor’s degree Fire Service Management from Southern Illinois University. Dave graduated from Governors State University with a master’s degree in public administration.  In addition to formal education, Dave has earned his Chief Fire Officer from the Illinois State Fire Marshall.  He also is designated as a Chief Training Officer from Center for Public Safety Excellence.

 

Dave is a lifelong learner and educator that provides a wide range of knowledge and experience.  His exposure to a wide array of organizational demographics from volunteer to paid full time in both the public sector and private sector allow him the ability to adapt his experiences to the challenges seen by organizations today.