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< Back Olaf "Pete" Pederson Board Member Pete served as Manager of Emergency Preparedness for the Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco) from 2011 - 2023. In that role, he was responsible for strengthening Pepco’s partnerships with area federal, state and local emergency management agencies, police and fire departments as well as local & state governments while at the same time developing new partnerships throughout Pepco’s service territory. He also worked closely with Pepco’s partners prior to and during system events developing procedures and protocols targeted at improving coordination and communication among utilities and first responders. Pete has over 44 years of experience in the electrical industry and has held positions in various divisions of the company including Systems Operations, Safety and Emergency Preparedness. In addition, to his role as Manager of Emergency Preparedness, he coordinated Pepco’s Emergency Services Partnership Program or “ESPP.” This program is designed to share critical electrical safety training and information with first responders (Fire, Police & CERT) to ensure their safety when responding to electrical emergencies.

< Back David Hoagland President, Local 36 of the IAFF and Board Member David is a life-long believer in strong labor unions and follows in the footsteps of his grandfather, who was president of a carpenters’ union. David was raised part-time in Washington, DC, and lives with his wife and kids in Ward 5.

Investing in DC Fire & EMS Saves Lives. The DC Fire & EMS Foundation's mission is to support the Department and its heroic members, and to educate the community about its life-saving mission. 2025 Annual Report Investing in DC Fire & EMS Saves Lives LEARN OUR STORY Our Mission & Vision The mission of the DC Fire & EMS Foundation is to support the DC Fire & Emergency Medical Services Department and its heroic members by supporting their training, wellness and recognition, equipment and facilities, and by educating the community about the Department's life-saving mission. Our vision is to empower the Department to continue to be a national leader in the fields of EMS, fire suppression and prevention, homeland security, and technical rescue. Our Team Thank you to our major sponsors, who see our Foundation's promise and honor the work of our first responders. Our Work How your investment helps Learn More TRAINING Investing in our Present and Future WELLNESS Taking Care of our First Responders EQUIPMENT & FACILITIES Supporting Excellent Service Learn More Learn More Learn More DID YOU KNOW? Every day, DC Fire & EMS first responders resuscitate patients in cardiac arrest, put out structure fires, rescue people trapped in elevators, and inspect buildings for safety hazards. EMS DC Fire & EMS is the 3rd largest health care provider in DC and a national leader in diverting non-emergency patients to primary care. Learn More Fire DC Firefighters are aggressive at preventing and responding to fires, rescuing victims, and preserving life and property. Learn More Diversity, Equity & Inclusion The DC Fire & EMS Department is one of the most diverse fire departments in the nation. Learn More MAKE A LIFE SAVING DONATION TODAY Donate Now EIN 26-0803057 @dcfireemsfoundation Subscribe to our Mailing List Join Thanks for subscribing!

2024 Awards Ceremony and Dinner The DC Fire & EMS Foundation co-sponsored the 2024 DC Fire and EMS Department Awards Ceremony and Dinner on June 7, 2024. Thank you to our sponsors and donors who helped make this amazing night happen! Contact us for information on how to become a sponsor at the April 10, 2025 ceremony. Our Sponsors See the full Photo Album here and the full ceremony here. Fire Chief John Donnelly and Executive Director Amy Mauro Fire Chief John Donnelly and General Eric Smth, US Marines Motor Vehicle Crash Survivor Raci Gordon and her Mother, Tia Fields Raci, her Family, and her Lifesavers Dock 5 at Union Market Dock 5 at Union Market H Street Liquors Cocktail Hour US Marine Corps Quintet Band DCFD Emerald Society Pipes and Drums DCFD Emerald Society Pipes and Drums DC Fire & EMS Honor Guard Master of Ceremonies Lieutenant Eugene Russell-Roach Master of Ceremonies Captain Sid Polish Executive Director Amy Mauro Fire Chief John Donnelly City Administrator Kevin Donahue CNN Correspondent and DC EMS Patient Kasie Hunt and her Family Kasie's EMS Team and her Family Retired Medical Director Dr. Robert Holman and Awardee Sgt. Stephen Gerber First Sergeant. Battershall's Life Savers Cardiac Arrest Survivor First Sgt. Peter Battershall, US Marines and his Family Cardiac Arrest Survivor General Eric Smith, US Marines General Smith' and his Life Savers Greater Washington Board of Trade President Jack McDougal and Amy Mauro MedStar Hospital CEO Dr. Gregory Argyros Bronze Bar for Valor Awardee Lt. David Palmer Bronze Bar for Valor Awardees Sgt. Jason Tarbel and Firefighter Matthew Owen Unit Citation Class II-5-U Awardees Class II-5-U Ribbon for Merit Awardees Fire Survivor Cinder and his Dad, Danny Johnson Bronze Ribbon for Valor Awardee Firefighter Ryan Black Company of the Year, Engine 15 AFC James Hanson and Administrative Employee of the Year, Malissa Blanco Dr. Robert Holman and Administrative Employee of the Year, Gabriel Gan AFC Gary Steen and Administrative Officer of the Year Captain Melonie Barnes Paramedic of the Year Darrick Holland Fire Chief and Fire Chief's Excellence Awardee EMT Yvette Reid

< Back Milton Douglas Board Member Milton is a native Washingtonian and a graduate of Frank W. Ballou Senior High School in Washington, D.C. Upon graduation, he went on to pursue classes in the field of Fire Science at the University of the District of Columbia. He was appointed to D.C. Fire & EMS January 20, 1987, as a Fire Fighter, thus was the start of a dream come true of a career in the field of fire service. During his tenure, he consistently demonstrated a commendable level of commitment to his professional growth and career advancement within the Department. On March 19, 1995, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant; followed by the rank of Lieutenant, January 17, 1996 and subsequently, the rank of Captain, April 4, 2004. In 2007, he embarked on a career shift that would ultimately groom him for the level of senior management with the promotion to the rank of Battalion Fire Chief, February 4, 2007. He was assigned to the Office of Internal Affairs and tasked with creating the office pursuant to the “Rosenbaum Taskforce on Emergency Medical Services Report and Recommendations of 2007.” He worked alongside the Fire Chief and his senior staff to ensure discipline was fair and equitable, and made certain members received fair and unbiased investigations, as well as, made sure penalties for misconduct were swift, fair and appropriate. April 27, 2008, he was promoted to Deputy Fire Chief of the Office of Internal Affairs, a position he served in until he was promoted to Assistant Fire Chief of Technical Services.

< Back Tommy Wells Board Member Tommy started his career in the District working as a social worker for the District's child protective services agency. He served as Director of the DC Consortium for Child Welfare from 1991 to 2006 and as an ANC 6B Commissioner from 1995 to 2000. In 2001, he was elected to represent Wards 5 and 6 on the DC School Board. He served as the Ward 6 from 2006 to 2014; during his tenure he chaired the Committee on the Judiciary. He then joined the administration of Mayor Muriel Bowser as the Director of the Department of Energy & Environment for eight years, followed by a year as Director of the Office of Policy and Legislative Affairs. He retired from DC government service in 2023.

< Back Amy C. Mauro, Esq. Executive Director Amy is a results-oriented manager and problem-solver known for her depth of knowledge on policy, legal, agency operations, budget, public safety and criminal justice issues. From 2015 to 2023, she served as Chief of Staff for the DC Fire and EMS Department during a time of significant transformation of the Department . She worked with retired Chief Gregory M. Dean, current Chief John A. Donnelly, Sr., and their executive leadership teams, to drive strategic budget investment, cultural and organizational change, and service improvements. The Department’s reforms and innovations, particularly in the area of EMS, have received national recognition and emulation. Prior to working for the Department, Amy served as General Counsel and Chief of Staff at the DC Office of Risk Management (DCORM), as well as a staff member in the Office of the City Administrator, DC US Attorney’s Office and DC Council. Amy is passionate about improving DC Fire & EMS services for DC residents, which includes her family and kids. She is currently working with the Board to build the DC Fire & EMS Foundation to the stature that the Department’s members and customers deserve. Amy is a DC native and lives with her husband Mark, and their two children, in Ward 6.

< Back Balchander Jayaraman Board Co-Chair Mr. Jayaraman is currently President of Strategic Education Consulting, LLC, a minority-owned small business in the District of Columbia. His company creates emergency response and evacuation plans and training for District government agencies, schools, and residential buildings, as well as business continuity plans for private companies, and non-profits. He has specialized expertise in planning for the safe sheltering and evacuation of people with disabilities. Before starting his own company in 2010, Mr. Jayaraman was Project Director at Inclusion Research Institute, a non-profit research organization. He managed projects that increased employment opportunities for people with disabilities, increased voter participation in elections, and improved the preparedness of people nationwide through the development of an innovative Fire-safety planner and Readiness Action planner. Outside of work, Mr. Jayaraman has a distinctive track record as a civic activist, an elected official, and a top candidate in the DC Council At-Large race in 2020. He recently completed serving his fifth term as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (ANC) 6B, representing the Capitol Hill/Hilleast areas of Ward 6. He currently serves as an alumni board representative of Jenkins Hill Child Development Center, and DC Doors, a local non-profit that helps people secure permanent, stable housing. He is on the board of Capitol Hill Little League and also serves as an Umpire for the League. Mr. Jayaraman was born in Bangalore, India and moved to Overland Park, KS at the age of ten. He graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School the University of Kansas. He moved to the District of Columbia in 1995 and lives in Ward 6 with his wife and son.

< Back Steve Blivess Board Treasurer Before focusing his efforts on labor relations, Steve worked as an attorney in multiple capacities. While with the D.C. Office of Risk Management, he served as acting general counsel and provided guidance to the chief risk officer for the District of Columbia. He was an assistant attorney general with the D.C. Office of the Attorney General where he represented the District in contract cases before the D.C. Contract Appeals Board and the D.C. Superior Court. He also spent nine years in private practice and as an assistant corporation counsel in New York City. For five years, he worked as an adjunct professor at The George Washington School of Law where he taught legal research and writing. For the last seven years, Steve has worked in legal and labor relations, including four years as the senior labor relations specialist for the District of Columbia and assistant attorney general for D.C. Fire and Emergency Services. He then worked for the Montgomery County Government as a labor relations manager and acting chief labor relations officer prior to spending the last year and half as the director of labor relations and lead negotiator for Montgomery County Public Schools. Blivess obtained his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Speech Communication from Penn State University and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Connecticut School of Law. When not practicing law and labor relations work, Steve enjoys watching baseball and spending time with his son and family.

< Back Chuck Bean Board Member As executive director of COG, he was responsible for COG’s several boards and committees and guided high-level initiatives (attracting Amazon HQ2, dedicated funding for Metrorail) for the region, including unified planning priorities for 2030 (“ Region United ”) related to equity, transportation, housing, and climate. Prior to COG, Chuck served as CEO of the Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington for 10 years. Other positions: Director of the Community Capacity Fund (a 9/11-related recovery fund), Deputy Director of the EZ/EC Foundation Consortium (a group of national foundations that supported the Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community initiative), and the Eureka Fellowship Program (a leadership program for executive directors of nonprofit organizations). Chuck has a BA from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN and an MPP from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

< Back John Sollers Board Member John has extensive experience coordinating with both local and federal agencies and is a certified instructor in hazardous materials, incident management, and National Fire Protection Administration best practices. He is a graduate of the Executive Leaders Program: Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security and the University of Maryland.

< Back John A. Donnelly, Sr. Fire & EMS Chief and Honorary Co-Chair, ex officio John A. Donnelly, Sr. started his career with DC Fire and EMS in 1992 at Truck 16. Over the course of his career he has served at Rescue Squad 3, Tower 3, and as Battalion Fire Chief 2; as the Division Commander of Special Operations, Homeland Security, and Apparatus Division; as a member of the Command Staff in Special Projects; and in Executive Officer Roles. In 2018, Chief Donnelly was promoted to the newly established Professional Development Bureau which included the Human Resources Division, Professional Standards Office, Training Division, Medical Services Division, and the Grants Office. Chief Donnelly serves on numerous committees supporting regional and national preparedness, including the International Association of Fire Chiefs Terrorism and Homeland Security Committee and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government’s Fire Chief’s Committee. Chief Donnelly is a long-time Ward 4 resident of the District of Columbia and lives in Manor Park. He spends his free time working with the Boy Scouts of Troop 98 in Brookland.