Chief Stevens Retires After Over 20 Years as
Chief of the Department

August 2010

On August 13, 2010 members and guests of the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department gathered for the annual installation of officers and awards banquet at the Jaycees Hall in Waldorf. Several members enjoyed great food and good times. As part of the annual banquet, Chief Daniel J. Stevens was honored at the banquet as he decided to "retire" as Fire Chief from the department after over 20 years as Fire Chief. As it was Chief Stevens' last official banquet as the Chief of the Department, it brought out several extra family and guests of Chief Stevens, several of them a surprise to Chief Stevens. Guests came from the Eastern Shore of Maryland as well as Western Maryland and everywhere in between. Guests included people Chief Stevens has worked with through his many years as Chief. In addition the former MSFA Executive Committee Chairman flew in from Arizona to congratulate Chief Stevens on a "job well done". Chief Stevens was recognized and given several awards to include a Governor's Citation signed by Governor Martin O'Malley and was voted Firefighter of the Year for Fire Station 3 by members of Fire 3.
Chief Stevens started his volunteer fire service career in 1962 when he joined the Lexington Park Volunteer Fire Department in St. Mary's County, Maryland at the age of 16. (Now the Bay District Volunteer Fire Department) Chief Stevens was a second generation firefighter in the Stevens family. He followed his father's footsteps as his father was active and a life member of the Lexington Park Volunteer Fire Department. Chief Stevens attained the rank of Lieutenant and was the youngest driver with the Lexington Park Volunteer Fire Department. He remained active for 6 years until he joined the United States Navy. He trained at the Naval Air Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida and was later stationed at Corpus Christi, Texas. He was awarded Distinguished Naval Graduate upon completion of Naval Aviation Officer Training. He served 3 years with the Navy as a Naval Flight Officer. He served as an instructor in the Naval Air Advanced Training Command teaching celestial airborne navigation. During that time he taught navigators and pilots how to find their locations and navigate based on the location of the stars. Following an honorable discharge as a Lieutenant from the U.S. Navy in 1972, he pursued and obtained his Masters Degree in Agriculture Economics and Finance from Texas A&M University. His education also includes an Associates of Arts Degree in Business Administration from St. Mary's College of Maryland and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture Economics from the University of Maryland in College Park. After earning his Master's Degree in Kingsville, Texas, he then returned to Southern Maryland with his wife Barbara, better known to the fire service as "Bobbi' where Chief Stevens joined the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department in 1975. They settled in Waldorf as it was a midpoint between Dan and Bobbi's parents in St. Mary's County and a new job in Washington D.C. He was employed as an Agriculture Economist and Director of Tobacco and Peanut Analysis Staff with the United States Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Administration. He also worked on the Foreign Agriculture Service with the USDA from 1973 till 1999 and through this position was able to travel to over 60 countries as an International Tobacco Economist many times taking his wife, Bobbi with him when he traveled. He retired in 2004, but still provides his services to them whenever called upon to do so.
As previously stated, Chief Stevens joined the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department in 1975. He served in several offices to include Department Fire Marshal where he highlighted fire prevention, targeting preschool and elementary school children. He also remained active in the Department's "Open Houses" during fire prevention week. Chief Stevens has served in the Fire Operational Division as Lieutenant and Captain. It was in 1983 that he was elected to the Assistant Chief's Office. He held this office for 4 years. In 1988, he was elected to the office of Department Chief. Chief Stevens served as the Operations Leader from 1988 until June 2000. In 2002 he was re-elected Fire Chief. Chief Stevens served in the office of Chief until 2010 where he headed up a 300 member, 3 station, 28 vehicle, all volunteer fire and EMS organization, recognized as the busiest all-volunteer emergency service organization in the nation. Additionally, the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department serves a 70 square mile area with a population of over 100,000 residents.
Chief Stevens has also chaired the Board of Directors, the Fund Drive Committee, the Fire Prevention Committee, the Fire Apparatus Committee and has SERVED on the following committees: Station 12, Growth and Planning, Computer, EMS 3 New Station, on the county level he not only chaired the Charles County Fire and EMS Cadet Program but he and his wife Bobbi were instrumental in getting the program up and running in Charles County. He also chaired the Charles County Radio Committee, Charles County False Alarm, and the Charles County Radio Talk Group. For over 30 years, Chief Stevens has represented the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department as a delegate to the Charles County Volunteer Fireman's Association, the Southern Maryland Volunteer Fireman's Association, and the Maryland State Fireman's Association. He has also been a delegate to the Charles County Volunteer Fireman's Association Executive Committee, and assisted in developing a PowerPoint Budget presentation that was used very effectively in developing the annual budget for the counties fire and EMS volunteer companies. He has been, and is serving on many of the active committees of these organizations at this time.
In 2008, Chief Stevens served as vice chair to the MSFA Executive Committee, and is currently the Chairman of that governing body of the entire State Firemen's Association. His past activities of the State Association include: past chairman of the Fireman's Training Committee, MSFA Driver's License Exemption, MSFA Awards, MSFA Low Interest Revolving Loan Board, State Firefighter Certification Board, Secretary to the Maryland Fire Service Professional Qualifications Board, member of the Maryland Instructors Certifications Board, member of the MFRI Board of Advisors, and the Training Liaison to the MSFA Safety Committee.
Chief Stevens is a level 3 instructor with the University of Maryland, Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute and has been for over 25 years. Additionally, he is a Governor's appointee to the Maryland Fire and Rescue Education and Training Commission and on the University of Maryland President's Board of Advisors. Some of the National or International certifications that Chief Stevens has include Firefighter III, Fire Service Instructor III, Fire Officer IV HazMat Operations and several Technical Rescue Certifications.
Some of the AWARDS Chief Stevens has won include Waldorf VFD firefighter of the year 5 times (to include 2010), Waldorf VFD EMS Person of the Year, President's Award, Charles County Firefighter of the Year, Charles County Chamber of Commerce Firefighter of the Year, National Volunteer Fire Council National Firefighter of the Year, Maryland Firefighter of the Year, Robert H. Shimer Fire Administrator of the Year, the Knights of Columbus Archbishop Neale Council #2279 Firefighter of the Year and the Smith M. Stathem Jr. Memorial Award for Excellence in Safety. Additionally Chief Stevens has been a top runner at Waldorf for most of the years he has been a member and he has been inducted into the Southern Maryland Volunteer Fireman's Association Hall of Fame and the Maryland State Fireman's Association Hall of Fame.
Chief Stevens has served in the Office of Chief longer than any other chief officer and has been recognized as one of the outstanding, knowledgeable, and dedicated leaders of the volunteer fire service community in Southern Maryland and throughout the State of Maryland and the United States. While Chief Stevens has not gone out just to get recognition, he has done what many volunteers do; to serve his fellow man. He has been there to serve and is an inspiration to every young person he encounters in the emergency services organizations. He constantly amazes his peers with his undying dedication and ability to do "just a little bit more".
Chief Stevens is a living tribute to the Volunteer Emergency Services of this County, Southern Maryland and to the great State of Maryland. And the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department has been truly lucky to have him as a member and more importantly a leader.

Thanks for everything Chief! Job Well Done.