Robert Rose Inducted in the Maryland Fire Chief's Hall of Fame

On April 27, 2024, Life Member and Past President Robert “Bob” L. Rose was inducted in the Chief Charles N. Black III Hall of Fame sponsored by the Maryland Fire Chiefs Association (MFCA). Bob has had a distinguished fire service career of nearly 51 years with the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company (OVFC). He has made significant contributions at the company, County, State, and National levels in firefighter training, professional development, and certification, in support of the MFCA’s mission to advance the fire and emergency services profession.

Bob has held various positions on the OVFC Board of Directors for 41 years, including 9 years cumulatively as President. He has served on over 30 OVFC committees, many for 10, 20, or more years. He has played a significant role in many of the major fundraisers and has managed several significant station renovation projects. In his latest endeavor, Bob is coordinating with Rutgers University on an investigation of cancer-causing chemicals on volunteer firefighters, using OVFC and another volunteer company as a study group.

Bob had a distinguished career with the Anne Arundel County Fire Department (AACoFD), retiring as a Captain in 2005. He became an Emergency Services Instructor for the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute (MFRI) in 1983. Upon his retirement from the AACoFD, Bob joined the MFRI staff as a Certification Specialist. He is now the state-wide expert on professional fire service qualifications. Each year, Bob oversees the approval of over 5,000 certifications for providers across Maryland and beyond.

Bob served as the Anne Arundel County’s Alternate Representative to the Maryland Fire Service Personnel Qualification Board (MFSPQB) from 1990 to 1995, and from 2002 to present. As part of his duties on MFRI’s staff, he has been a member of the delegation representing the MFSPQB at every annual conference of the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications (NBFSPQ) since 2005.

Bob has also been very active in the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighters Association (AACVFA) throughout his career. He served on the AACVFA Training Committee for several years. He moved through the leadership “chairs” of the Association and was elected as President in September 2020 as the coronavirus epidemic was escalating. He also chairs the 508 Fund Allocation Committee of the AACVFA.

Bob has actively supported the Maryland State Firemen’s Association (MSFA) throughout his fire service career. As the state’s leading expert on professional certification, Bob is always ready to support each member of the emergency services, both career and volunteer.

Bob has had an outstanding fire service career in Anne Arundel County and the State of Maryland. He is a strong leader who willingly and ably takes on difficult challenges without hesitation. He is widely respected by fire service personnel throughout Maryland. He has made immeasurable contributions to the fire company, the Anne Arundel County fire service, and firefighter training, professional development, and certification across Maryland and is most deserving of induction into the MFCA Hall of Fame.