Dennis L. Rubin’s fire & rescue experience spans more than 35 years. Rubin has served as a line firefighter/EMT, company officer, staff officer, command officer, and chief of the department in Kansas City, Kansas.
Chief Rubin’s educational accomplishments include a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Waldorf University, a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Fire Administration from the University of Maryland, and an Associates in Applied Science Degree in Fire Science Management from the Northern Virginia Community College. Rubin is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program (EFOP) and the Naval Post Graduate School’s Executive Leadership Course in Homeland Security. Rubin is a certified incident safety officer (ISO) and has obtained the Chief Fire Officer Designation (CFOD) and Chief Medical Officer Designation (CMOD) bestowed by the Center for Public Safety Excellence. Rubin is a nationally registered emergency medical technician.
Rubin is a popular lecturer at local, state, national, and international venues. Rubin’s teaching credentials are significant. Rubin was an adjunct faculty member with several state fire-rescue training agencies and is currently a part-time faculty member at the National Fire Academy. Ru-bin has been a member of seven National Fire Academy course development teams. Included among the development teams that Rubin has served on are Incident Command, Leadership, Infection Control for the Fire Service, Incident Safety Officer, and Tactical Operations.
In 1994, Rubin was the President of the Virginia Fire Chiefs Association. Chief Rubin was the host fire chief for the Southeastern Fire Chiefs As-sociation Conference. He was appointed to several committees with the International Association of Fire Chiefs, including a two-year term as the Safety Committee and Program Committee chairs. For the past 30 years, Rubin was the chair for the National Wingspread Strategic Planning Conference. Rubin is an active member of the Kansas City Kansas Downtown Rotary Club.
Rubin is the author of several emergency service textbooks all published by Fire Engineering Books. Rubin’s first release is entitled Rube’s Rules for Survival. This book is a collection of case studies dealing with the mission critical topic of fire fighter safety. The next book that Rubin re-leased was D.C. Fire discussing his four years as the fire chief of our Nation’s Capital. Rubin’s third textbook is It’s Always About Leader-ship. A fourth text is, once again under contract with Fire Engineering Books and is titled, Choosing to Command. This textbook is scheduled for release in spring of 2024. Chief Rubin contributes to several fire-rescue service publications and has written more than 200 technical articles relating to fire-rescue department operations, administration, emergency management, training, & safety.
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Deputy Chief John Droppelmann’s fire service career spans 28 years. Chief Droppelmann has been a member of the Kansas City Kansas Fire Department for the past 24 years serving as the Fire Marshal for the past 3 years. Chief Droppelmann relies on his educational background in Electrical Engineering, investigations, inspections, code enforcement, and plans review to oversee the department’s Fire Prevention Division.
Chief Droppelmann’s previous positions with the Fire Department include Firefighter, Paramedic, Driver, Captain, Acting Battalion Chief, and Fire Investigator. As Deputy Chief of the Fire Prevention Division he is responsible for the inspections of over 4500 commercial structures within the city limits, conducting fire prevention education and public relations, and enforcement of the Fire Department’s section of the City’s ordinances. He is also responsible for overseeing the investigation of over 500 fires each year and assisting the District Attorney’s office with the prosecution of those persons who have been criminally charged with violating one or more of Kansas’ arson statutes.
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Chief LaRwan McClaine got his start in the fire service in 1997 as a volunteer for the Edwardsville Fire Department (Edwardsville, KS). In 1999 he became a career firefighter for Lawrence Douglas County Fire and Medical (Lawrence, KS). In 2001, after serving in the city of Lawrence for 2 years Chief McClaine answered the call to serve his hometown of Kansas City, Kansas.
Chief McClaine has a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration with an emphasis on Fire Service Management from Park University. He also has an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science from Kansas City, Kansas Community College. Chief McClaine has earned various Vice-Provost’s certifications from the University of Kansas Fire and Rescue Training Institute as well as the University of Missouri Fire and Rescue Training Institute.
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Chief Andrew L Novak started his career with K.C.K.F.D. spring of 1998. Chief Novak has worked in all three districts throughout the city, serving as a Firefighter for 7 years, Driver for 4 years, and Captain for 9 years. He is also proud to be 3rd generation for the K.C.K.F.D. and a life- long resident of K.C.Ks. Chief Novak is currently assigned as the Shift Commander on 3rd shift, and is a Commander on the Hazardous Material Team. Chief Novak has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice from Benedictine College and Associates in Fire Science from Kansas City Kansas Community College. He has attended courses through the National Fire Academy to include Incident Command and Control, Hazardous Materials/ WMD exercises, and Leadership Development.
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Chief Chance Grey is a 3rd generation Kansas City Kansas Firefighter. He was born and raised in Wyandotte County and graduated from Piper High School in 1992. He began his career in the Fire service in 1997 with the City of Leavenworth Fire Department as a Firefighter and a member of their special operations Teams of Hazmat and Water rescue. He joined the Kansas City Kansas Fire Department in 2003 and has served as a Firefighter Paramedic, Tactical Paramedic, Driver, Ems Supervisor, Captain, and currently as a Battalion Chief. He has over 20 years of experience on a HAZMAT team and is now one of the two Chief Coordinators for our two HAZMAT Teams.
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Chief Scott Hawley is a 28 year veteran of the Kansas City Kansas Fire Department with 32 years in the Fire Service. Chief Hawley began his career with the Salina Kansas Fire Department after becoming an EMT in 1990 and later becoming a Paramedic in 1993. He joined the Kansas City Kansas Fire Department in 1994 as a Firefighter/Paramedic and has served in all operational ranks to include Driver, Captain, Battalion Chief and Assistant Chief of Operations. He also served in the Training Division while holding the rank of Captain. Chief Hawley is currently the Assistant Chief of Special Operations overseeing all disciplines of Technical Rescue. He also coordinates with other Kansas City regional Fire Departments to provide Technical Rescue response within the metropolitan area and is an active participant with Kansas Search and Rescue, a state level Urban Search and Rescue Task Force.
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Chief Heath is currently serving as Assistant Chief in the EMS division. He began his firefighting career in 1990 outside of Topeka and has been with Kansas City Kansas Fire since 1997. He is a Paramedic and has worked in many roles with in the organization including Hazardous materials response, as an EMS supervisor, and in the investigations division.
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Chief Hendin started his career as a firefighter/paramedic and currently operates as the Shift Commander for First Shift. He has served with the fire department since 1997 and worked in the training, fire investigations, and suppression divisions. He was promoted through the ranks to Assistant Chief in 2019. He has earned two associate degrees, two bachelor's degrees, and a master's degree from Park University in Public Administration. He graduated with honors from Park University and is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success. Before his fire service career, he served in the United States Army from 1987 to 1993 and is a decorated combat veteran serving in Operation Just Cause and Operation Desert Storm. He has been married to his wife Janelle since 2008, and they have three children, two dogs, and two cats.
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Chief McCoy began his fire service career as a volunteer with the Central Cass County FPD in his hometown of Archie, MO in 1997. He worked as an EMT for American Medical Response in Independence, MO and as a Firefighter/Paramedic for the Belton, MO FD before joining the KCKFD in 2003.
Chief McCoy holds an Associate’s in Fire Science from the KCKCC, and a Bachelor of Science in Fire Service Administration from Eastern Oregon University. He is also a member of the department’s Honor Guard, previously serving as Commander, and the Pipe and Drum band.
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Assistant Chief Shawn McLaughlin currently serves as the Chief of the Communications Division for the Kansas City Kansas Fire Department. Shawn was born and raised in Kansas City, Kansas and graduated from Sumner Academy of Arts and Science in 1991. His career with the KCKFD began in 2000, and since that time he has served as a Firefighter/EMT, Driver, Fire Captain, Battalion Chief, and as a member of the department’s Hazardous Materials team and Honor Guard Pipes and Drums. His current duties include managing all aspects of the Fire Communications Division which provides 911 service to the citizens of Wyandotte County, including emergency medical and fire dispatching. Shawn is a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), and is currently pursuing Bachelor of Science in Business Management. Shawn has been married to his wife Stephanie for 23 years and has three teenage daughters.
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Chief Schaunaman is the Assistant Chief of the Training Division and also serves as the Public Information Officer (PIO) for the Kansas City Kansas Fire Department.
Scott Schaunaman moved to Kansas City, Kansas in 2006 to begin a career with KCKFD where he has served as a Paramedic Firefighter, Hazmat Technician, Driver, and Captain.
Prior to KCKFD, Scott worked five years as an EMS Educator for Avera McKennan Hospital and University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Scott was the lead paramedic instructor and course coordinator for Avera McKennan School of EMS and instructed/coordinated many classes throughout the state, such as; BTLS, PHTLS, PEPP, PALS, and ACLS. His passion for education continued when he moved to Kansas City as he worked part-time as an adjunct faculty for the Kansas City Kansas Community College and served the role of a field internship preceptor for Johnson County Community College paramedic students.
Chief Schaunaman has an Associate’s degree from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from the University of North Dakota. Scott worked as a radio broadcaster prior to pursuing a career in public service.
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Thomas Stark started his career with the Kansas City Kansas Fire Department in 1999. He served in the Fire Suppression Division as Firefighter, Driver, Captain and Battalion Chief. As a Battalion Chief, he was transferred to the Fire Investigations Unit. He currently serves as a Suppression Shift Commander at the rank of Assistant Chief.
Chief Stark received his Bachelor’s Degree in Atmospheric Science from the University of Kansas in 1992. He went on to receive his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Missouri, Kansas City in 2003. Additionally, Tom has Associate Degrees in Fire Science, Aviation Technology and Business.
Prior to KCKFD, Chief Stark served for seven years in the United States Air Force as a Special Operations Helicopter Crew Chief. During his time in the Air Force, he spent time in South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Italy and various other locations throughout the U.S. He was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant from the Air Force with several awards to include the Airman’s Medal, the military’s highest non-combat medal for heroism.
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Assistant Chief with Kansas City Kansas Fire Department, currently assigned to 3rd shift Operations Chief.
Chief White has 23 years in the fire service. For the last 21 years he has worked for the KCK Fire Dept. where he started as a firefighter, promoted to driver and then to captain. The majority of his time as a firefighter was spent at P-11. Chief White promoted to driver and drove P-20 and P-14. He promoted to Captain and his first assignment was P-17, after 2 years he moved to P-9 and finished his years as a captain at P-14. He was promoted to Battalion Chief and served on 2nd shift until his most recent promotion to Assistant Chief.
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Chad Womble has been a member of the Kansas City Kansas Fire Department since October 1st, 1995. He began his career as an EMT/Firefighter, working at various stations during this period. In 2002 he was promoted to the rank of Driver and promoted to Captain in 2005. He worked as a Pumper Captain for 5 years before moving to a Safety Car. In the 10 years Chad worked as a Safety Officer, Chad obtained his Hazardous Material Technician Certification and became a Certified Incident Safety Officer. Chad was promoted to the rank of Battalion Chief in 2020 and has served as Battalion Chief in Districts 2 and 3 on 3rd shift.
He enjoys spending his free time with his wife and children. However, the greatest title he has ever been granted is “grandpa.”
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A life long resident of Wyandotte County Kansas David Andrews was hired in 2004 with the Kansas City Kansas Fire department.
He received his paramedic certification from Kansas City Kansas community college in 2002.
He has been a fire investigator for 5 years and counting.
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Chief Cottrell is currently serving as Battalion Chief in the Training Division. He began his firefighting career in 1997 outside Lawrence KS at Wakarusa FD, and has been with Kansas City Kansas Fire since 2002. He is a Paramedic, and has served in all operational ranks to include Firefighter, Driver, Captain. He has attended the National Fire Academy, numerous hands on training classes across the nation, served as a Tactical Paramedic, and has National Certifications for HAZMAT Technician, Instructor I, II. He currently helps structure and provide training for the Fire Academy and on going training for line personnel.
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Battalion Chief with Kansas City Kansas Fire Department, currently assigned to 2nd Shift Suppression Division District #1
Chief Englis is a 24-year career firefighter. He began his career as an EMT with Johnson County Medevac ambulance service in 1995. In October 1997 he went served at Lawrence Douglas County Fire and Medical as a Firefighter Paramedic for 2 years. In 2000, he joined the Kansas City Kansas Fire Department. Chief Englis has held the ranks of FF/MICT, Fire Apparatus Operator, Captain, and currently serving for the past 3 years as Battalion Chief. He has served as a member of the department’s Swift Water Rescue Team, in the training division as Captain and later as a Hazardous Materials Technician Captain.
Chief Englis earned his Kansas Emergency Medical Technician from Kansas City Kansas Community College in 1995. In 1997 he attended Johnson County Community College to earn certification as a Nationally Registered Mobile Intensive Care Technician.
Chet and his beautiful wife Jaime (Gatton) are lifelong residents of Kansas City, Kansas and have two children Drew and Beau.
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Chief Jayne began his fire service career with the Kansas City Kansas Fire Department in 1998. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics Education from Kansas State University and an Associate's Degree in Fire Science from Kansas City Kansas Community College. Chief Jayne was promoted to Battalion Chief in 2017 and currently serves as a BC on 2nd shift as well as a Technical Rescue Chief.
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Chief Kloiber has been with the Kansas City Kansas Fire Department since October 1st, 1995. He currently holds the rank of Battalion Chief and his title is Battalion Chief of Investigations. As an investigator his duties include the investigation of any and all types of fires and burn injuries.
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Kelly grew up in Kansas City, Kansas. After graduating from F. L. Schlagle high school, he joined the US Navy, were he was first introduced to the thrill of firefighting. Although Kelly’s main duties were “Office Machine Repair” he served on the ship’s fire party. After leaving the Navy, Kelly applied for Kansas City Kansas Fire Department and was accepted into the fire academy in April of 1990. Working as a Firefighter he was assigned to pumpers, trucks, and Haz-Mat units before promoting to Driver where he served in the High-risk/Low-frequency district of Fairfax. Making the rank of Captain, Kelly was assigned to training for over two years lending his 22 years of experience to the new recruits. He then joined one of the departments rescue teams getting certified in Water, Trench, Confined Space, High Angle, and Heavy rescue. After ten years as a Captain, Kelly promoted to Battalion Chief of “Professional Development” in the Training Division. He has currently served over 32 years with the KCKFD. When not on duty, Kelly has devoted a lot of his time to his faith, through volunteering and spends several hours at his church. His love of motorcycles, led Kelly to volunteer his time with the Christian Motorcyclists Association for the last 15 years. This opportunity allowing him to travel across three quarters of the United States on two wheels with the wind in his hair (or lack thereof).
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Chief Korosec is currently serving as Battalion Chief in the EMS Division as the EMS Transport Chief/Director. He started EMS career in 1991 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana then moving to Kansas City, Kansas in 2005 and joining the KCKFD.
As a Firefighter/Paramedic he has held the role of Tactical Medic and EMS Supervisor.
He is an Ambulance Service Manager ( ASM ) graduate and is NAAC certified as an Ambulance Documentation Specialist, Ambulance Coding, as well as Ambulance Compliance Officer.
When not at work he enjoys spending time with his family and watching sports, especially LSU ( Geaux Tigers ! ) and Chiefs football, and of course Friday night lights out at Piper High School.
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Bryan Welch grew up as the son of an Army Officer, moving to a new state year. Bryan attended West Point, served as an Infantry Officer, and continued his public service as a firefighter, paramedic, technical rescue team member and is now a Fire Investigator for the KCKFD. He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering, and a Masters in Fire Management. He worked at MAST ambulance and the Kansas City Missouri fire department before progressing to the KCKFD. Once with KCK, he performed duties as a KARE tech, firefighter, driver, and captain before promoting to Battalion Chief, and served in EMS, suppression, training, TEMS, and dispatch. Bryan is a Kansas Certified Fire Investigator 2. As an LEO firearms trainer, he manages the firearms training within the Fire Investigations Unit. He enjoys high stress, realistic, to a high standard, training, and trains firefighters and police officers, and civilians across Kansas. Bryan is known for his attention to detail, high standards and expectations, and has a storied history of choosing the harder right over the easier wrong. On his off days, he is a competitive pistol shooter, student, and instructor, and will go rappelling anywhere possible.
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