MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Marine Corps Installations East and Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Fire and Emergency Services chief, Chris Parker, was recently designated as a Chief Fire Officer, making him the only one in the Marine Corps.
The CFO designation is not only a step along the way to self-improvement for Parker, but also a deeper commitment to the base and surrounding community.
“Chief Parker is a dedicated and experienced professional who constantly strives to improve the performance of his organization while at the same time providing a high quality and safe working environment for his personnel,” said Kevin King, Director of Fire and Emergency Services,
MCIEAST. “This (CFO) recognizes a high level of professional competence that is documented through professional, educational, technical and community service achievements to provide a high quality Fire and Emergency Services Program. According to the Center of Public Safety and Excellence, the CFO designation was originally designed to recognize fire officers who have demonstrated excellence and outstanding achievements throughout their career.
To receive the designation Parker was evaluated by an outside organization of top industry professionals who investigated various aspects of his career, organization and leadership abilities.
“I asked a third party to come in and evaluate me as an individual and chief officer of the organization to determine if my leadership abilities, management abilities, education and background are suitable for the CFO designation,” said Parker, a Swansboro, North Carolina, native.
Although the CFO designation is unprecedented in the Marine Corps, Parker says this is a stepping stone on the path to improving himself, his fellow colleagues and his organization.
“I think this validates my purpose as a fire officer,” said Parker. “It reassures me on what I believe are the right things to do in my leadership, and it means a lot to me because it makes me humble enough to understand that I’m not at 100 percent and there is a plan out there to help further improve our organization.”