[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 181 (Thursday, December 19, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1904-E1905]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING CHIEF MARK McCORMICK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 19, 2013

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
Chief Mark McCormick, who is retiring after more than 20 years of 
service with the Santa Rosa Fire Department.
  Mark has been a member of the Santa Rosa Fire Department for more 
than 20 years, during which time he has served our community in a 
number of capacities. He has served as a Firefighter, Fire Captain, 
Fire Inspector as well as the Department's Deputy Fire Chief and City 
Fire Marshal. Mr. McCormick was appointed Fire Chief on September 1st, 
2011.
  His long and storied career began 32 years ago when he served his 
country in the United States Air Force in Anchorage, Alaska. After 
being honorably discharged from the Air Force, he began his post-
military career in firefighting with both the City of Corona and the 
Orange County Fire Departments prior to moving to Santa Rosa in 1991.
  During his tenure with the SRFD Mark saw many successes, including 
the expansion of the department's service territory with the 
construction of Fire Station-10 and Station-11. In

[[Page E1905]]

addition, Mr. McCormick was instrumental in the development of a 
funding plan for the relocation of Fire Station-5 to Fountaingrove 
Parkway, which is within a significant Wildland Urban Interface fire 
zone within the City. Mark also oversaw the implementation of a 
residential sprinkler ordinance as well as major improvements in public 
safety communications ensuring that all police and fire communications 
functioned in all buildings, large and small. These efforts are first 
hand proof that Chief McCormick's top priority was always the safety of 
his community.
  In addition to his work as a public servant, Mark is a former 
President of the Santa Rosa Firefighters, IAFF Local 1401 where he 
served on their Executive Board for eight years. In 2003, Mark was 
honored by labor and management as the Santa Rosa Firefighter of the 
Year.
  Mr. Speaker, Mark McCormick has spent more than two decades serving 
his country and community. It is appropriate that we honor him today 
for his public service and to wish him well upon his retirement.

                          ____________________