Jim Robinson began his career in the fire service in 1990. He is currently the Fire Chief of the Greensboro (N.C) Fire Department, which is an ISO Class 1 and Center for Public Safety Excellence CFAI-accredited department. Robinson oversees all operations of the department that includes 27 fire stations and just over 600 employees.
Chief Robinson is a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program at the National Fire Academy and holds a bachelor’s degree in Fire & Safety Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and a Master’s Degree in Emergency Management from Jacksonville State University.
Chief Robinson earned his Chief Fire Officer designation in 2011.
Alexander Henderson, Ph.D. is an associate professor in the Department of Public and Nonprofit Administration at Marist University, New York.
His research and teaching span organizational behavior, personnel management, policy implementation, and administrative discretion. Dr. Henderson previously served as a chief administrative officer, operational officer, and director with several emergency services organizations in suburban Philadelphia. He is a fellow of the Center for Organizational Research and Design at Arizona State University, and an academic fellow with the Local Government Workplace Initiative at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.
Dr. Henderson holds a Ph.D. from the School of Public Affairs and Administration at Rutgers University-Newark, and a B.A. and M.P.A. from Villanova University.
He earned his Chief Training Officer designation in 2022.
Paige Duncan is a municipal leader with over 30 years of experience in local government, public administration, and strategic planning. As Town Manager of Foxborough, Massachusetts, she oversees municipal operations, financial strategy, and public safety initiatives. She is committed to fostering strong local governance and ensuring high-quality public services. Under her leadership, Foxborough Fire & Rescue became the first municipal agency in Massachusetts—and only the third in New England—to achieve Internationally Accredited Agency status through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI).
Prior to becoming Town Manager, Ms. Duncan served as Director of Land Use and Economic Development for Foxborough, where she secured over $9.2 million in grant funding, led strategic and master planning efforts, and implemented key infrastructure projects. She has extensive experience in public administration, crisis management, and interdepartmental collaboration, working closely with fire and emergency services on staffing, contract negotiations, and operational improvements.
Ms. Duncan holds a Master’s in Community Planning from the University of Rhode Island and a Bachelor of Science in Geography with a Planning Concentration from Framingham State University. She is an active member of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, the 495/MetroWest Partnership, and serves on multiple boards. She is dedicated to advancing public safety accreditation, municipal excellence, and innovative governance in support of CPSE’s mission.
Rebecca Grill is the City Manager of the City of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Ms. Grill began this position February 2025. She oversees the day-to-day operations of the city, the implementation of the City Council’s policy directions.
Prior to working for the City of Oshkosh, she worked for the City of West Allis, the City of Milwaukee Common Council/City Clerk, the Public Safety Department of the Housing Authority, the State of Wisconsin Department of Corrections – Youth Corrective Sanctions Program, and the State of Wisconsin Department of Corrections – Ethan Allen Boys School.
Ms. Grill has an MBA with a concentration in Finance, a Bachelor of Administration in Political Science/Criminal Justice from Valparaiso in Indiana, and a Paralegal certificate. She is an ICMA Credentialed Manager, UW – Madison Certified Public Manager, and a Certified Municipal Clerk.
Sai Narain is currently a Director, Public Safety & Justice Strategy at Microsoft. With 20+ years of experience in the public safety industry, he currently works with the fire service, law enforcement, other public safety & justice partners in envisioning the art of the possible, and how technology can be a force multiplier and assist organizations with intergovernmental agency data sharing, cybersecurity, and collaboration. He works closely with the partner ecosystem that supports public safety and serves as key technology subject matter expert supporting the Microsoft Advanced incident Response System (AiRS) program for emergency first response. Sai has a proven track record of leading successful initiatives, including collaborating with various departments and external partners to drive digital transformation. He has been actively involved in disaster response missions, and a thought leader in how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can empower public safety.
In addition to his professional achievements, Sai is known for his proactive approach to problem-solving, design thinking, and his ability to build strong relationships with clients and partners. He has been a key player in building public safety & justice communities of practice, speaks at major events, podcasts and organizes think tank discussions around technology.
Salvatore Scarpa joined the fire service in 1991 and is the fire-ems chief of the Columbus Fire & Emergency Medical Services Department in Georgia, a CFAI accredited agency.
Chief Scarpa has written numerous articles for the fire service and presented at many regional, national, and international conferences on contemporary issues in the fire service. Chief Scarpa has an associate’s degree in Fire Science, a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, and a master’s degree in Leadership Studies. He is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer (EFO) program and a graduate of the International Association of Fire Chief’s (IAFC) Fire Service Executive Development Institute (FSEDI). Chief Scarpa has recently been appointed to the National Advisory Council for FEMA.
Chief Scarpa earned his designation as Chief Fire Officer in 2010.
Ron Siarnicki is a third-generation firefighter. He began his fire service career at the age of 18 when he joined his hometown volunteer department in Monessen (PA). He began his professional career as a firefighter with the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department in 1978 and progressed through the ranks to Chief of Department in 1998.
In July of 2001, Chief Siarnicki retired from the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department to accept a position as the Executive Director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. The Foundation is a non-profit organization that was established by the United States Congress in 1992, whose purpose is to honor and remember America’s fallen fire heroes and to provide resources to assist survivors in the rebuilding of their lives. He was bestowed the title of Executive Director Emeritus upon his retirement from the NFFF in December of 2023.
Chief Siarnicki is a graduate of the Master’s Program, School of Management and Technology, at the University of Maryland University College (1999) and has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Fire Science Management from UMUC (1994). He has also served as a UMUC faculty member for the Fire Science Curriculum for nine years. He earned his Chief Fire Officer designation in 2003, is a certified Fire Officer IV, Fire Service Instructor Level III, Fire Service Inspector Level I, Fire Fighter Level III, and State of Maryland Emergency Medical Technician. Chief Siarnicki is also a graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program and belongs to the following professional organizations: Institution of Fire Engineers, International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Fire Fighters, Maryland Fire Chiefs Association, Maryland State Firefighters’ Association, Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association, and the National Fire Protection Association.