| RELATED INFO |
| * Purdue Fire Department |
September 6, 2007
Purdue University Fire Department names new chief
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - |
Kevin M. Ply, who has been serving as interim chief since March, has assumed the permanent role, effective immediately.
"With more than 20 years of experience as a firefighter in a variety of capacities, Kevin understands the need for training and collaboration with career and volunteer fire departments in and around the Purdue community," said Carol Shelby, the university's senior director of environmental health and public safety. "Kevin has been with the university since 1989 and has steadily risen through the ranks from firefighter and emergency medical technician to lieutenant to deputy fire chief to interim fire chief. His positive attitude and leadership skills made him stand out from other candidates."
Ply said he is happy with the department's ability to respond to emergencies, but also hopes to continue its growth in other ways.
"The Purdue Fire Department is dedicated to serving the Purdue community for fire response, medical response and transport," he said. "In the future, I'd like to expand our public education programs, especially about fire prevention on campus and in off-campus housing, such as in cooperative houses, fraternities and sororities."
Ply said he will continue to encourage Purdue's firefighters to develop relationships with other emergency response providers in the area to heighten the level of emergency preparedness in the Indiana Department of Homeland Security District 4.
Prior to joining the Purdue Fire Department in 1989, Ply worked in variety of positions at Lafayette Home Hospital.
He has more than 23 years of experience as an emergency medical technician and has undergone training at the National Fire Academy, Nevada Test Site, Texas Engineering Extension Service and Command School Inc.
Ply succeeds Ken Alling, who had been fire chief since 2000.
Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu
Sources: Carol Shelby, (765) 494-6113, cshelby@purdue.edu
Kevin M. Ply, (765) 494-6919, kmply@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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