In partnership with Pierce Manufacturing Inc., the International Association of Fire Chiefs announced the IAFC Fire Chief of the Year 2026 honorees at Fire Rescue International (FRI) in Kansas City.

APPLETON, Wis. (August 12, 2026) – Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) business, is proud to announce the 2026 IAFC Fire Chief of the Year honorees. Volunteer Fire Chief Gail Schmidt of the Rockerville Volunteer Fire Department in Rapid City, South Dakota, and Career Fire Chief Amy Ramon of the Cy-Fair Fire Department in Houston, Texas, have been named this year’s recipients.

Since 1996, the IAFC has annually recognized one volunteer and one career fire chief for outstanding service. Nominations are evaluated by a select committee, focusing on leadership, innovation, professional development, integrity, public service and contributions to the fire service. The 2026 IAFC Fire Chief of the Year awards were presented during the Fire Rescue International (FRI) event in Kansas City, Missouri.  

“We are honored to recognize Chief Schmidt and Chief Ramon, two exceptional leaders who have dedicated their careers to strengthening the fire service and protecting the people they serve,” said Marty Bass, president of Pierce Manufacturing. “Their accomplishments reflect the very best of fire service leadership which include vision, integrity, resilience and a deep commitment to their teams and communities. Pierce Manufacturing is privileged to join the IAFC in celebrating these two remarkable chiefs and the lasting impact of their service.”

Volunteer Fire Chief Honoree – Gail Schmidt, Rockerville Volunteer Fire Department (South Dakota)

Chief Gail Schmidt has dedicated more than three decades to the volunteer fire service, serving as fire chief of the all-volunteer Rockerville Volunteer Fire Department since 2014. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to operational readiness, firefighter health and safety, professional development and regional collaboration. Her leadership has helped strengthen not only her department but fire and emergency services throughout Pennington County and the Black Hills region. 

Among Chief Schmidt’s most transformative accomplishments was addressing a critical lack of reliable water supply within the department’s rural response district. Under her leadership, a multi-year initiative resulted in a district-owned water system featuring a 60,000-gallon storage system and a hydrant capable of delivering 600 gallons per minute at the department’s main station. The project significantly improved emergency response capabilities, firefighter safety and suppression effectiveness while also creating new regional training opportunities. She also led a regional grant initiative securing more than $915,000, which represented more than $1 million in equipment value, to replace obsolete radios and pagers and improve interoperability among emergency response agencies throughout Pennington County. 

Chief Schmidt’s commitment to service extends well beyond emergency response. She has championed firefighter physical and behavioral health, helped advance mental health support for volunteer firefighters in South Dakota, developed regional training programs and served in specialized search and rescue roles. Her leadership during the extensive 2019 search for a missing nine-year-old child exemplified her extraordinary dedication to public service, with Chief Schmidt committing 65 operational days and traveling more than 750 miles on foot in support of the search effort. 

Career Fire Chief Honoree – Amy Ramon, Cy-Fair Fire Department (Texas)

Chief Amy Ramon has more than three decades of fire service experience and has served as fire chief of the Cy-Fair Fire Department since 2014. Under her leadership, the department has undergone a significant transformation, evolving from a primarily volunteer organization with only four of 13 stations staffed with 24-hour fire suppression coverage into one of the largest combination fire departments in Texas and the nation. Today, the department serves nearly 600,000 residents while continuing to expand its staffing, infrastructure and emergency response capabilities to meet the needs of a rapidly growing community. 

Throughout this growth, Chief Ramon has remained focused on the people behind the mission. She championed a comprehensive mental health program providing personnel with counseling and proactive behavioral health resources, achieving more than 54 percent utilization. She also prioritized comprehensive cancer screening initiatives to support early detection and address the elevated occupational cancer risks firefighters face. Her people-centered leadership has helped build a culture of accountability, professional development, operational excellence and support for firefighters, paramedics, staff and their families. 

Chief Ramon’s influence extends beyond Cy-Fair through her leadership in regional and statewide fire service organizations, her work developing future fire service leaders and her advocacy for firefighter health, safety and sustainable emergency services. A past Texas Fire Chief of the Year honoree, she is recognized by peers and colleagues for her steady leadership, sound judgment, integrity and ability to guide a complex organization through significant growth and change. 

Chiefs Schmidt and Ramon exemplify the highest standards of leadership in the fire service. Through decades of service, each has demonstrated the vision, perseverance and commitment required to strengthen their organizations while advancing the health, safety and effectiveness of the fire service. Their selection as the 2026 IAFC Fire Chief of the Year honorees recognizes both their extraordinary individual achievements and the lasting impact of their leadership.

For more information about Pierce Manufacturing and the IAFC Fire Chief of the Year award, visit www.piercemfg.com.