MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Public Information Officer, [email protected]
The Yvorra Leadership Development Foundation (YLD) is proud to announce that Thomas Gripp, Battalion Chief of the Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department (KCKFD), is a recipient of a Chief James G. Yvorra Award for Fire and Emergency Services Responders.
Battalion Chief Gripp is responsible for the KCKFD Professional Development division. His primary goal with the YLD scholarship is to complete his undergraduate degree while continuing to support his daughter in pursuing her graduate studies. He believes that earning his degree will open doors for advancement within his organization.
“We are proud to support Battalion Chief Gripp’s quest to complete his degree and find it particularly rewarding that he is also supporting his daughter’s education. To be a good leader starts by being a good person,” said Michael Hildebrand, President of the YLD Foundation
As Battalion Chief of Professional Development, Gripp has a wide range of responsibilities. He played a key role in establishing and now oversees the department’s Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) School, which he considers his most significant professional achievement.
His other responsibilities include:
✅ Promoting advanced educational opportunities for department members.
✅ Identifying and scheduling training that enhances member safety.
✅ Leading the Department’s Cancer Prevention Initiative.
✅ Overseeing EMS continuing education compliance.
✅ Organizing Facility Familiarization Tours (FFT) for high-risk, low-frequency incidents.
✅ Administering the department’s Blue Card Command System rollout.
✅ Representing KCKFD in the Emergency Management CERT Program and the Emergency Management Office at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
The Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department (KCKFD) is a full-time, career-based fire department serving a population of 160,000 residents across 128 square miles. The department consists of multiple divisions, including Fire Operations, EMS, Training, Logistics, Fire Prevention, Communications, and Special Operations.
KCKFD operates with 501 sworn personnel when fully staffed, managing 22 front-line fire apparatus and nine (9) ALS Medic units across three (3) battalions. Annually, KCKFD responds to approximately 37,000 emergency calls.
Chief Dennis L. Rubin, a longtime member of the YLD Scholarship and Awards Committee, serves as KCKFD’s Fire Chief. He recused himself from the review and recommendation process for this scholarship.
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 August 1 to October 30. For more information about YLD and its scholarship program, visit YLD.org.