WASHINGTON-- The nominee to head the U.S. Fire Administration faced questions from a Senate committee Thursday morning.
Now, Virginia Beach, Va. Fire Chief Greg Cade waits for a decision. "I was told they would be leaving the record open for a few days in case there are additional comments. After that, they will schedule a work session."
Cade said he wasn't given a timetable when to expect the committee vote on his nomination to replace David Paulison as U.S. Fire Administrator. Paulison left the post to head FEMA last year.
"The questions were straight-forward, nothing earth-shattering," the past president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs said. "I was prepared..."
Cade said he told the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee that training and funding will be among his top priorities."It's vital that the National Fire Academy receive the money and support to continue its mission."
He also said the data collection system needs to be enhanced so the fire service can use it to promote their needs. He understands that many stations are financially strapped, and vowed support.
Another issue discussed involved interoperability. Cade said the USFA will work to help enhance communications.
Cade, who has more than 40 years in the fire service, graduated from the University of Maryland and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.
He remains on the job in Virginia Beach, where he heads several hundred firefighters and first responders.
