NYSAFC Presents Fire Chief of the Year Awards

The New York State Association of Fire Chiefs (NYSAFC) is pleased to announce the 2018 recipients of its New York State Fire Chief of the Year Awards, Chief Dale Herman of the City of Watertown Fire Department (Career Fire Chief of the Year) and Chief Frank D. Nestle of the Canajoharie Volunteer Fire Department (Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year). The awards were presented on June 14, 2018, during the association’s 112th Annual Conference & FIRE 2018 Expo at the Turning Stone Resort in Verona, NY.

NYSAFC’s Fire Chief of the Year Award honorees are

association members who have been selected for demonstrating exemplary leadership, innovation, professional development, integrity, service to the public, and contributions to the fire service.

Dale Herman joined the fire service in 1979 as a volunteer with the Northpole Volunteer Fire Department, where he served as chief from 1996-2000 and 2005-2010. In 1986, Herman made a career out of his passion to serve when he joined the City of Watertown Fire Department. He rose through the ranks and has served as chief of the department since 2010. With a strong commitment to firefighter education and training in his region and a keen focus on the safety of firefighters and citizens in his community, Herman has shared his knowledge by serving as a New York state fire instructor in Jefferson County. Despite facing many challenges to reduce staffing and services, Herman has continued to lead the Watertown Fire Department with professionalism and integrity and for his efforts, he has been named the 2018 New York State Career Fire Chief of the Year.

Frank Nestle joined the Canajoharie Fire Department in 1987 after serving as an explorer for two years. He is the third of four generations of his family to serve in the local fire service. Nestle has been chief of the department since 2004 and is also a Montgomery County deputy fire coordinator. Recognizing the changing demands on the fire service and the expanding needs of his community, Nestle was involved in the implementation of the department’s special operations team that consists of rope and water rescue teams. The team was put to the test in 2017 during a flash flood that required the rescue of 18 people from the Canajoharie Creek. As the incident commander, Nestle successfully worked with mutual aid departments, as well as county and state agencies during the major rescue operation. Nestle has demonstrated his dedication to training and equipping his fire department members with the tools needed to improve fire/rescue service to his community and for his efforts, has been named the 2018 New York State Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year.

Pictured (top, l to r): NYSAFC President 2017-2018 John Sroka, Chief Dale Herman, NYSAFC Executive Director Jerry DeLuca. Pictured (bottom, l to r): NYSAFC President 2017-2018 John Sroka, Chief Frank Nestle, NYSAFC Executive Director Jerry DeLuca.