Chief Otto Drozd III is the Fire Chief of the Orange County Fire Rescue Department, is a 31-year veteran of the fire service. He began his career with the Hialeah Fire Department in 1986, becoming Fire Chief in 2001.  

 

In 2009, Chief Drozd became Fire Chief of El Paso Fire Department and lead the El Paso Fire Department to become one of only five Metro Department’s to achieve international accreditation and an ISO Class One rating.

 

In 2017 Orange County Fire Rescue under Chief Drozd’s leadership was awarded the Congressional Fire Services Institute award for excellence in Fire-Based EMS and improved their ISO rating from a Class 4/8b to becoming one of the largest Departments in the Nation to receive a Class One ISO rating while maintaining International Accreditation.  

 

Chief Drozd is a frequent presenter on a variety of fire service topics, and over the last year has presented at Fire Rescue International, Firehouse Expo, Fire Rescue East, Indian Fire Conference, and Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Conference and at various local events.

 

Education:

Bachelor’s Degree (Magna Cum Laude) - Florida Atlantic University

Master’s Degree - St. Thomas University

National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officers Program

Fire Service Fellowship - Harvard University (2010)

Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program

 

Affiliations:

Central Florida Fire Chief’s Association

Florida Fire Chief Association

Southeastern Fire Chief’s Association

International Association of Fire Chief’s

Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association

National Fire Protection Association

 

Leadership Positions:

President Metropolitan Fire Chief Association

President of the Florida Fire Chief’s Association

Florida’s Domestic Security Oversite Council

Safe Haven for Newborns Board of Directors

NFPA 3000 Technical Committee

NFPA 1616 Technical Committee

IAFC Unmanned Aerial System Task Force

IAFC EMS Reimbursement Task Force

Commissioner, Commission on Fire Accreditation International