Jumpline magazine Q1 2023 - Flipbook - Page 6
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Message from the Fire Chief
Hello Jumpline readers. I hope
your new year has started well. It
was important for me to get settled
in as your new Fire Chief before
accepting Local 1403’s gracious
offer to provide an introduction in
the Jumpline magazine. I am grateful for the relationship between the
union and my leadership team.
Some background on myself: I am
Raied “Ray” Jadallah. My love for
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue began in 1990, at the age of 13, as
one of our fire explorers. My first professional stop occurred
in 1996 as a firefighter for Palm Beach County Fire Rescue.
Four years later, I made the move back home to Miami-Dade
Fire Rescue.
I have been a proud member of this outstanding organization
for over 22 years. Working in some of the busiest firehouses,
with many of our great firefighters, company officers, and battalion chiefs. It was the troops who I worked with that instilled
in me the knowledge, skills, and attitude that I currently use
in administration. As I served in and rose through the ranks, I
took those virtues with me. I am thankful for my experiences
so far, as well as the leadership and guidance bestowed upon
me from my predecessors, to prepare me for the massive responsibility of leading this department.
Last August, after almost 27 years in the fire service, that op-
Raied “Ray” Jadallah
MDFR Fire Chief
portunity arose when I was approached by Mayor Daniella
Levine-Cava to take the lead position as Fire Chief of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. Since I took on this great responsibility, I have continued to find myself following in the footsteps
of Fire Chiefs before me whose leadership has shaped and
supported the advancement of our department.
The challenges facing our community are complex and compelling, and addressing them requires our undivided attention.
We need to synchronize our efforts with other agencies as well
as our stakeholders. From major catastrophic emergencies
to routine fire and medical calls, our great men and women
serving Miami-Dade Fire Rescue are ready to answer the call.
When thinking about 2023 there are two words that to me
summarize what I envision for my administration: innovation
and leadership.
In order to answer the call, we must provide a safe, efficient,
and skilled fire-rescue response. My priority as Fire Chief is to
continue supporting the services we render daily to our community, while considering the community’s current and future
needs, and the health and safety of our men and women. Innovation and thinking outside the box are not just expected,
they are required. The days where fire departments were
guided by the principle of “this is how we have always done
it” are long gone. As a government agency, we are expected
to be transparent, responsive, and the most efficient of businesses. I want to emphasize again that the health and safety of my firefighters are always on the top of my priority list.
We cannot exceed the public’s expectations and make them
proud if we are not healthy. Your well-being is important to me.
For every challenge our department faces, there are always
opportunities to improve and adjust our operations. This is
where innovation comes into play to meet the growing demands of our department and our community. Your dedication
and focus will be instrumental to fulfilling our priorities. Your
dedication is also greatly appreciated.
I want to share with you a quote that helps me make the decisions and fulfill the responsibilities I have every day: “Leadership doesn’t happen by chance.” In life, personal and professional, a lot of things happen by chance. But also, for good
leadership, focus and intent is required. Good leadership
doesn’t happen by chance. You have my word that the focus
of my team will be providing good support and leadership.
I strongly believe, and I implore you to join me in believing,
that the interactions we have as public servants have a great
impact on Miami-Dade Fire Rescue now and in the future.
How we interact amongst ourselves and with our stakeholders now will lay the groundwork for a strong foundation not
only for the support and growth of our department but will also
ensure our community gets the best service possible. In essence, everlasting impact is what we are here to provide (I
will expand on this very important topic while visiting stations).
FF Oliver Samy evaluating a possible
K9 human remains puppy cadaver dog
named Kena. They are testing for future
missions with MDFR and FLTF-1
Photo by Lieutenant Scott Mullin
As a lifetime member of our community, it is an honor and a
privilege to serve as Miami-Dade County’s Fire Chief and I
look forward to all we will accomplish together.
Ray Jadallah
February 2023 | JUMPLINE Magazine