DARRIN ARMSTRONG
Fire Service Chief Officer
Silvis,IL
Summary
Accomplished Fire Officer with a proven track record with the Cities of both East Moline and Silvis, adept in leading emergency response teams and executing lifesaving procedures. Experienced in lesson planning and class development, Significantly enhanced training programs at both Silvis Fire Department and East Moline Fire Department, mentoring personnel and coordinating with national institutes. Demonstrates exceptional judgment and leadership, coupled with effective communication and training skills. Highly trained Assistant Fire Chief dedicated to public safety and awareness at the Officer level since 2022. Effective leader, remains steady during times of emergency, while directing and motivating team members throughout crises.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
10
10
Certifications
Work History
Battalion Chief, EMS Coordinator
City Of East Moline
3 2006 - Current
- Led team in fighting fires and exercised considerable judgment in deciding best way to extinguish based on type of fuel and environment.
- Responded to emergency medical calls to perform lifesaving procedures and other emergency medical services, additionally serving as EMS Coordinator.
- Developed my role as MABAS Division 43 Hazardous Materials Team Leader overseeing five career fire departments, developing and teaching monthly team trainings, overseeing team leaders on each department.
- Assessed scenes, coordinated responses and communicated critical details through two-way radios.
- Oversaw budget management processes over EMS, fleet, small tools, and hazardous materials, ensuring proper allocation of resources while maintaining fiscal responsibility at all times.
- Established strong relationships with local government officials, community groups, and businesses to increase engagement and support for fire department initiatives.
- Maintained high levels of readiness by regularly evaluating equipment inventory, personnel training, and overall resource availability within the battalion.
- Developed scheduling and coordination of shift staffing levels, changes and activities.
- Served as effective liaison between firefighters under my command and upper-level administration to address concerns promptly while still upholding department policies and procedures.
Assistant Chief, Training Officer
Silvis Fire Department
01.2004 - Current
- Trained and mentored dozens of new and current personnel.
- Identified training needs and planned classes and tests accordingly.
- As needed per 9-1-1 call, fulfilled roles of apparatus driver/engineer, engine company officer, and firefighter.
- Coordinated classes and schedules with mutual aid departments, National Fire Academy, and Illinois Fire Service Institute.
- Identified areas of personnel deficiency and took necessary action for correction.
- Planned, directed, and controlled execution of administrative and compliance activities.
- Served as a key liaison between senior leadership and frontline staff, facilitating open communication channels throughout the organization.
- Conducted regular audits of departmental records to ensure accuracy and compliance with internal policies and procedures, maintaining on-site records and coordination with OSFM.
- Identified areas for cost savings through rigorous analysis of financial data, optimizing budget expenditures accordingly as a departmental purchasing agent and Treasurer of the Brotherhood.
- Developed comprehensive training programs for new hires, resulting in faster onboarding and increased productivity.
- Coordinated emergency response efforts during critical incidents, ensuring effective collaboration among all involved parties.
Education
Associate of Science - Fire Science
Black Hawk College
Moline, ILOSFM Certification - Fire Officer I & II
John Wood Community College
Quincy, IL 05.2001 -
Certificate - EMT - Paramedic
Black Hawk College
Moline, ILOSFM Certification - Firefighter III
Illinois Fire Service Institute
Champaign, IL 05.2001 -
Fire Academy Graduate - Basic Operations Firefighter
University of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, ILSkills
Incident Command & Effective Use of ICS
Lesson Planning & Class Development in Fire and EMS
Hazardous Materials Team Coordination & Oversight
Committee Coordination & Project Implementation
Employee Training and Mentoring
Additional Information
I have served several roles for over 20 years for both the Silvis Fire Department and the East Moline Fire Department. These roles include but are not limited to multiple roles in the SFD Brotherhood and Training Officer. I have also been promoted throughout my career at EMFD from Firefighter, Engineer, Lieutenant, Captain, and into my current role as a Battalion Chief in charge of EMS. I believe I have earned the respect and confidence of my peers and subordinates, something I have never taken lightly. I have had over 2000 classroom hours recorded and pride myself on efficiency. I have also done over 150 hours with the National Fire Academy during their in-State fire classes, scheduling some of them myself. I have also coordinated several classes locally with the Illinois Fire Service Institute and completed several NIMS ICS levels per FEMA. I have always had an underlying focus on the safety and training of firefighters as guided by the Illinois State Fire Marshall, helping to implement programs on fundraising, decontamination, training requirements, recordkeeping, fiduciary responsibility, mental health, and rehabilitation. For me, serving the communities that I have grown up in, both on and off the clock, has been a passion - not a job.
Certification
Basic Operations Firefighter & Firefighter III
Timeline
Assistant Chief, Training Officer
Silvis Fire Department
01.2004 - Current
OSFM Certification - Fire Officer I & II
John Wood Community College
05.2001 -
OSFM Certification - Firefighter III
Illinois Fire Service Institute
05.2001 -
Battalion Chief, EMS Coordinator
City Of East Moline
3 2006 - Current
Associate of Science - Fire Science
Black Hawk College
Certificate - EMT - Paramedic
Black Hawk College
Fire Academy Graduate - Basic Operations Firefighter
University of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign
Basic Operations Firefighter & Firefighter III
Fire Officer I & II
Fire Service Instructor I & II
American Heart Association BLS Instructor
Illinois State Fire Marshal Exam Proctor
Fire Apparatus Engineer
Hazardous Materials Technician & Incident Command
Firefighter Peer Support
Blue Card Incident Command
Water & Ice Rescue
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