RON PRITCHARD, D.P.A.
County Commissioner Ron Pritchard has lived in Florida since 1956. He retired as Deputy Fire Chief, Fort Lauderdale Fire Department, after 27 years of service, and currently lives on North Merritt Island with his wife, Donna.
As Acting Fire Chief, Ron was responsible for 300 personnel and a $19M budget. As a member of the City's Department Head Team, he developed and managed a multi-million dollar capital outlay and improvement budget and a $100M municipal budget.
Ron received his Doctorate in Public Administration (D.P.A.) from Nova Southeastern University in 1982. Additional academic degrees include: B.S., Public Affairs, Magna Cum Laude, Nova Southeastern University, and A.S., Fire Science, Magna Cum Laude, Broward Community College.
He is currently serving his first term as your elected County Commissioner for District 2, which includes Merritt Island, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral, Kennedy Space Center and Patrick Air Force Base. He was selected Vice Chairman of the County Commission November 2003 and Chairman of the County Commission November 2004.
Since Ron's election in November 2002, he has served as Chairman of the Brevard Water Supply Board, Public Safety Coordinating Council and Value Adjustment Board. Additionally, he is a member of the Metropolitan Planning Council, East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, and the Central Florida Smart Growth Alliance. Currently, (2005) he will serve on the Tourist Development Council, Economic Development Commission, East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, Metropolitan Planning Council, Public Safety Coordinating Council (jail issues) and the County's Internal Audit Committee.
He has received Commendations from the Brevard County Police Chiefs Association, Brevard Cultural Alliance, Brevard Veterans Council and Memorial Center and the Vietnam Veterans of Brevard.
Ron's previous community and government involvement is extensive in Brevard County:
- Chairman, Government Relations Committee, Cocoa Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
- Vice-Chairman, Executive Committee, Cocoa Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
- Board of Directors, Cocoa Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
- Vice-Chairman, Brevard County's Citizen Budget Review Committee
- Vice-Chairman, Brevard County's District II Dredging Committee
- President, Citizens for Florida's Waterways
- Leadership Brevard, Insight Committee
- Marine Industry Association of Brevard
- Republican Executive Committee
- Director, Merritt Island Executive Council
- Keep Brevard Beautiful
- Vietnam Veterans of Brevard
- Brevard Tomorrow, Leadership Team
- Brevard Tomorrow, Economy Committee
- myregion.org, Leadership Team
- Director, River Moorings Homeowners Association (RMHOA)
- Chairman, RMHOA Architectural Committee
- Charter Member, North Merritt Island United Methodist Church
- Ron received "Hometown Hero Awards" in recognition of outstanding service, above and beyond the call of duty for 2001 and 2002 by the Cocoa Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.
While employed with the fire department, Ron developed the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) pilot program. Numerous other programs involving training, fire reporting systems, fire prevention and inspection, fire ground tactics, hazardous materials, apparatus specifications and purchasing were developed and implemented during his tenure as Deputy Chief or Acting Fire Chief. Additionally, he taught fire science courses and tactical operations for the Florida State Fire College and Atlantic Vocational Center.
Ron served as Vice Chairman of the Fort Lauderdale Police Officer and Firefighter Retirement System as well as a member of various city, county and state committees that developed methods and techniques to improve personal safety and the fire service delivery system.
A boating enthusiast with over 40 years experience, Ron is a former member of the Fort Lauderdale Power Squadron and the Marine Industries Association of South Florida. He is a licensed insurance adjuster and founder of Southeast Fire and Marine Associates, Inc., a marine surveying and insurance adjusting firm. During his membership with the Power Squadron, Ron completed several boating courses and earned the nautical rating of Pilot.
In addition to his various environmental efforts and awards on behalf of our waterways, Ron twice chaired Broward County's Annual Waterway Cleanup, and was selected "Volunteer of the Year" by Week of the Ocean, an environmental organization that focuses on protecting coral reefs.