[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 19456-19457]
[From the U.S. 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.

[[Page 19457]]

  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 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.

                          ____________________