I’m Michael – Fire Chief, and Candidate for Second Vice President of the IAFC

Michael O’Brian is the Fire Chief for the Brighton Area Fire Authority (BAFA) in Brighton Michigan. BAFA is a full-service emergency service that serves a 72 square mile region, with five fire stations and 89 personnel.

Chief O’Brian is a 26 year veteran of the fire service, with a demonstrated history of leadership based on a passion for operations, firefighter fitness, and community risk reduction. He is a recognizable face in a wide array of fire service organizations and has a history of positively affecting change throughout the country in the form of fire code changes and improvements.

Chief O’Brian has served locally, in the State of Michigan and is a member of the Board of Directors for the IAFC, a post he has occupied since 2017. At home in Brighton, Chief O’Brian works hard to integrate community risk reduction strategies into operational service delivery.

Chief O’Brian’s leadership can be found in many areas of this profession, including:

• Board Member, International Association of Fire Chiefs (2017-Current)
• Board Member, Fire and Life Safety Section of the IAFC
• Member, Great Lakes Division of the IAFC
• Chair, International Code Council Fire Code Action Committee
• Vice President, Michigan Mutual Aid Box Alarm Association
• Past President, Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs
• Recipient of Robert W. Gain Fire Prevention Leadership Award

Chief Michael O’Brian is known for building collaborative teams, communicating effectively, and working feverishly to accomplish goals. He desires to continue to serve the IAFC as the Second Vice President, bringing his experience of service to our association

As a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, I am able to stay current on issues that affect our fire service. The IAFC has been critical in my career as a Fire Chief aiding in my development through resources, training, and conferences. The ability to stay connected with peers has allowed us to become a premier fire service organization. The resources available to our staff through section membership such as the Volunteer/Combination Officers Section (VCOS) and the yellow ribbon report, or support from peers in the Great Lakes Division, are beyond invaluable.

I am so grateful for what the leadership and membership has provided me, I am looking for your support in 2022 as part of the election process with the IAFC. With your support we can continue to grow the association and give back to our membership that has given us so much!