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Robert D. Carnahan
Overview
Experience includes a fire service career that began in 1974, serving concurrently in two jurisdictions. He was a
volunteer fire fighter/EMT and secretary/treasurer of a community ambulance service. He also was a full paid
career fire fighter-paramedic at Clackamas County Fire District No. 54. This fire-ems experience has been
characterized by increasingly responsible positions in fire suppression, emergency medical services, fire
prevention, incident command, fire department operations, budget administration, human resource management,
emergency management, and overall fire department administration. The fire service experience has included time
as a Fire Fighter, a nationally certified EMT-Paramedic, a Fire Inspector, a Fire Marshal, a Assistant Fire Chief, a
Fire Science Instructor, adjunct university professor, author, seminar and conference speaker, and the Chief Fire
Executive of a Fire District.
The above activities have been complimented by extensive community involvement in civic and charitable
organizations, professional organizations and policy-making bodies. The above accomplishments, experience and
professional competencies earned Chief Carnahan the professional designation of Chief Fire Officer by the
Commission on Chief Fire Officer Designation, CFOD, in August of 2001.
Chief Carnahan retired from Clackamas County Fire District No. 1 at the end of calendar year 2001. He has stayed
active in the fire service as a consultant and in Fire Service organizations and is currently on the Board of Directors
of the National Society of Executive Fire Officers, and its Past President. He is an active participant of the
Leadership Summit(s) hosted by the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Congressional Fire Services
Institute, CSFI, annual conference and dinner, CFSI National Advisory Committee, a peer reviewer for Chief Fire
Officer Designation candidates, and was an evaluator of 2002 Assistances to Fire Fighters Grant Program.
Carnahan’s consulting company is a primary consultant to software developers who produce virtual reality training
products for fire and emergency response agencies.
Experience
2003-2004
Department of Homeland Security, FEMA. Supervisor Patrick Massey 425 487.4743
Provide technical support including instruction to fire agencies and their representatives throughout assigned
FEMA Region in applying for federal grants through the Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program. Monitor grant
recipients in the use of grant funds and record keeping requirements of the federal government. Conduct and
make public presentations on grant writing and matters pertaining to grants.
1989-2002
Assistant Fire Chief - Clackamas County Fire District No. 1, Milwaukie, Oregon, The fire district encompasses an
area of 170 square miles and serves a full time population of 150,000 citizens. The fire district is a full service fire
district providing fire and paramedic services from 12 community fire stations. It provides a swiftwater rescue team,
confined space/technical rescue services through 150 career staff and 70 volunteer fire fighters. The District’
budget is approximately $24 million dollars annually with an annual emergency workload of 11,000 calls per year.
Primary duties have been as the second in command of the fire district. Responsibilities have included, operations,
human resources, and community services, fire prevention services, strategic planning and administrative
services. (Current position description attached.)
1986-1989
Fire Chief - Clackamas County Fire District No. 54, Oregon City, Oregon
Chief of a fire protection district that encompassed 64 square miles in a suburban/rural setting. The District was a
full service fire and EMS agency and had four fire stations, a paid staff of 24 employees, and 37 paid on call
volunteers. The District's annual budget was approximately two million dollars and responded to 1200 alarms
annually. Rob was responsible for all aspects of this fire/emergency medical service agency. He was the Budget
Officer of the District, the Chief examiner and Appointing Officer, Chief Labor Negotiator, Investment Manager, and
the chief spokesperson for the District at all regional, state, and national assemblies. He guided the Fire District
into a three District merger, which consolidated fire services in the county. He served as the Project Manager
throughout the consolidation process. While the Chief of Fire District 54 he was the duty officer and incident
commander, on a rotating basis, for the three fire agencies that formed the consolidated Fire District.
1983-1985
Assistant Fire Chief - Clackamas County Fire District No. 54, Oregon City, Oregon
Assumed command of combination paid-volunteer Fire District in the absence of the Chief of the Department.
Directed all functions of the Fire District, including; fire prevention, civil service, labor negotiations, fire department
operations, training, maintenance, and fire fighter safety. Assists in analyzing issues facing the District in the future
and the present. Prepared and planned for various natural and man caused disasters. Sought input from diverse
interest groups on Districts operations and community involvement. Assists in budgeting activities, and
recommended policies and procedures for Fire District Operations.
1980-1982
Fire Marshal - Clackamas County Fire District No. 54, Oregon City, Oregon
Evaluate citizen input from various interest groups, make decisions concerning fire and life safety issues, establish
goals and objectives for fire prevention bureau supervise employees and recommend budgetary priorities for
bureau.
1979-1980
Fire Inspector-EMS Coordinator - Clackamas County Fire District No. 54.
1977-1979
Fire Fighter-Paramedic-EMS Coordinator - Clackamas County Fire District No. 54. Hired as a fire fighter-paramedic
for the fire district and given additional responsibilities as EMS Coordinator.
1974-1977
Volunteer Fire Fighter-Paramedic - Molalla Rural Fire Protection District, Molalla, Oregon.
Education
Executive Fire Officer Program Graduate 1989, National Fire Academy
Numerous National Fire Academy and Emergency Management Institute courses
B.S., Social Science, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon (1975)
A.A., Psychology, Mt. Hood Community College, Gresham, Oregon. (1971)
EMT-P, Paramedic Medicine, Clackamas Community College, Oregon City, Oregon
Biographical Sketch
Rob Carnahan was the Administration Chief of Clackamas County Fire District No. 1 prior to retirement The Fire
District, a CFAI accredited agency, has over 150 employees and 60 volunteer fire fighters, including chaplains, and
support personnel. Rob’s primary responsibilities included legislative and governmental affairs, community and
business relationships, district communications, emergency management, and public education and information
services. The fire marshal’s office and the Deputy Chief for Administration reported to Rob. Formerly, the Fire
Chief of Clackamas County Fire District No. 54 Chief Carnahan was instrumental in shaping the organizational
structure that resulted in the successful consolidation of eight of Clackamas County's fire agencies.
Chief Carnahan's fire service career began in 1974 and includes; volunteer fire fighting, paid fire fighting and
incident command, including being certified as an EMT Paramedic. He has held the ranks of; a Fire Fighter-
Paramedic, an Inspector, Fire Marshal, Assistant Fire Chief, Fire Chief and as an elected Fire District Director. Rob
is a graduate of the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program, has earned the professional
designation of Chief Fire Officer, was President of the National Society of Executive Fire Officers and is a member
of numerous professional organizations. He has worked as the Fire Program Specialist for the Department of
Homeland Security, Office for Domestic Preparedness, ODP, overseeing all aspects of the Assistance to Firefighter
Grant Program.
Locally Rob was the President of the North Clackamas County Chamber of Commerce and President of Willamette
Falls Hospital Foundation Board. He serves on a numerous civic and community advisory councils and boards
where he represents the interests of the fire service and local government. He was active in the Oregon City West
Linn Rotary Club and served as the chairperson of the Oregon State Board on Public Safety Standards and
Training. He holds a Bachelors degree from Portland State University, and was an adjunct faculty member at
Western Oregon University. He is the principal member of Colere Management Consulting Group, LLC.
As a consultant Rob continues to pursue the training and certification of fire personnel by advancing virtual reality
simulation training products into the fire service. He has been instrumental in helping Reality Response, Inc. adapt
and develop computer based simulation software for the use by the first response community.
Rob speaks frequently to community and professional organizations on civic involvement and leadership issues and
is a frequent contributor to trade and professional publications. His professional interest is to help people reach
the full potential by learning the value of serving others. Rob has been married to his wife Becky for 34 years and
has three sons, a daughter-in-law and three grandchildren. Rob and Becky reside on their ranch in the Central
Oregon town of Dufur near Mt. Hood. His hobbies include snow skiing, horseback riding and other outdoor
activities.
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