MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Public Information Officer, [email protected]
The Yvorra Leadership Development Foundation (YLD) is pleased to announce that a civilian member of the Fairfax County, Virginia, Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD) has been awarded a scholarship. Public Information Officer (PIO) Mitch Clark received a Chief James G. Yvorra Award for Fire and Emergency Service Responders. This is the third YLD scholarship awarded in 2024 to a public information officer.
“It is truly an honor to award scholarships to members of the fire and emergency medical services. Regardless of whether you serve as a volunteer or career member, sworn or civilian, the key for YLD recipients is their commitment to leadership development through training and education,” said Michael Hildebrand, president of YLD. “We selected PIO Clark for his aspirations and dedication to professional development.”
Clark will use his scholarship to achieve several key goals that will enhance his professional growth and contributions to the FCFRD. He plans to use the YLD scholarship to fund his enrollment in a Leadership Certificate Program at George Mason University. His ultimate goal is to pursue a master’s degree in emergency management and public administration.
Fairfax County is in the Washington, D.C., metro area. The FCFRD serves a resident population of 1.25 million and accommodates up to 5.9 million daily commuters. The department operates 39 stations organized into eight battalions, collectively responding to more than 135,000 calls for service annually. FCFRD has approximately 1,700 employees supporting its mission and is home to one of two teams in the United States that can deploy internationally with FEMA (VA-TF1). The department is led by Fire Chief John Butler.
Each year, YLD recognizes emerging and developing leaders in fire, EMS, hazmat, emergency management, and homeland security by awarding scholarships. In 2024, YLD awarded a total of $44,000 in scholarships to seven individual recipients and two departments.
The application period for a YLD scholarship runs from Aug. 1 to Oct. 30. For more information about YLD and its scholarship program, visit YLD.org.