FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WILDWOOD, NJ – City of Wildwood Fire Department Deputy Chief Daniel Dunn has graduated from The National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program. It is the pinnacle of the United States Fire Administration (USFA) and is structured to empower executive officers to develop, maintain, and expand various leadership skills in crafting bold and imaginative public policy solutions that keep communities safe and make them resilient.
The program is a two-year commitment and culminates in the completion of a major Capstone Research Project. Deputy Chief Dunn’s project centered on Motivators and Barriers to Consolidation of Fire and Emergency Services for the Wildwoods’ Fire Departments.
This is an exclusive accomplishment. The EFO Program began in 1985. To date, just over 4,700 fire and emergency service executive leaders have graduated from the program. This includes 42 fire and emergency services leaders from other countries. New Jersey has a total of 55 executive officers that have completed the program.
Commissioner of Public Safety, Steve Mikulski shared his enthusiasm for Dunn’s accomplishment: “We have always known that Deputy Chief Dunn was an outstanding asset to the Wildwood Fire Department and Wildwood itself. Everything he applies himself to, he excels at. We extend our deepest congratulations and appreciation for all his efforts through this program for the betterment of the department.”
Wildwood Fire Chief Ernest Troiano III praised Dunn, “During his tenure, he has worked closely with FEMA and the state to recoup money following the many coastal storms we have in Wildwood. When he first took over, the city was on the verge of being dropped from ACMJIF. However, due to his commitment to make the city a safer place, the city has received several awards – a complete turnaround from where we once were.”
Dunn was born and raised in Wildwood, NJ and grew up in the firehouse as his grandfather, Thomas Dunn, was a Wildwood firefighter and introduced his grandson to the fire service. He graduated from the University of New Haven with a bachelor's degree in Fire Science and Saint Joseph's University with a master’s degree in Public Safety Management.
Deputy Chief Dunn began his career with the Wildwood Fire Department in September 1999 as a volunteer firefighter in the Wildwood Fire Co. # 1. He was hired as a part-time Firefighter/ EMT in October 1999. He was appointed full time in January 2004 and was later promoted to Captain in November 2016. After acting as Deputy Fire Chief, he was promoted in April 2020. He holds multiple Pro-Board and New Jersey State fire service certifications and completed the Certified Public Managers program through Rutgers University in 2018.
His other roles include:
· Assistant Team Leader for the Cape May County Urban Search & Rescue Team
· Municipal Emergency Management Coordinator
· ACMJIF Alternate Fund Commissioner for the City of Wildwood
· Member of the Wildwood Knights of Columbus #2572
· Greater Wildwood Elks Lodge #1986
Deputy Chief Dunn continues to reside in the City of Wildwood with his wife of over 17 years, Kate, and daughters Rylee and Madelyn.