Palmetto Fire Chief Henry Argo began his efforts as fire chief in Palmetto in early 2007 after 30 years of experience. This week it was announced by Mayor John Miller that Argo has been re-designated as Chief Fire Officer by the international Commission on Professional Credentialing (CPC). Argo is one of only 663 designated chief fire officers worldwide.

“Chief Argo has successfully completed the process that awards him the professional designation of ‘Chief Fire Officer.’ The Commission on Professional Credentialing met on Dec. 9 to officially confer the re-designation upon Chief Argo. Chief Argo is one of only 663 chief fire officers worldwide,” Miller said at the Jan. 11 City Council meeting, noting that Argo first received the designation in 2003 and subsequently completed the process that led to his re-designation.

The Chief Fire Officer designation program is a voluntary program designed to recognize individuals who demonstrate their excellence in seven measured components that include experience, education, professional development, professional contributions, association membership, community involvement and technical competencies.

To maintain the original designation, Argo had to show he had continued to develop as a chief fire officer in the areas of professional development, professional contributions, active association membership and community involvement.

A board of review consisting of members of the fire and emergency services profession, academia, and municipal agencies reviews each application and recommends successful candidates for designation to the commission.

CPC had its beginnings in 1986, when the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the International City-County Management Association (ICMA) met to develop the concepts and design for continuous improvement of the fire services industry.

CPC is a component of the non-profit Center for Public Safety Excellence headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia.

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