After 16 years as Centre Region fire director, Steve Bair is retiring at the end of December.
The Centre Region Council of Governments General Forum recognized Bair on Monday night with a resolution of commendation and appreciation.
“Steve has earned the unwavering respect, trust and dedication of his peers, and has mentored countless career fire professionals and volunteers through his professional and personal relationships,” General Forum Chair and College Township Councilman Rich Francke said in reading the resolution. “Steve has set the example for others to follow under his tenure as his leadership reflects highly on the professionalism and pride that exists within the Centre Region Fire Protection Program, the Alpha FireCompany and the fire service.”
Bair began his fire service career in 1975 at the age of 17, when he became a volunteer firefighter in suburban Harrisburg. He went on to serve as a chief officer for 33 of his 47 years in the fire service, spanning four departments in Pennsylvania and New Hampshire.
With a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, Bair worked in industry until 2007, when he was offered the full-time position leading the Centre Region’s Fire Protection Program.
As fire director, Bair has overseen the Alpha Fire Company, where he holds the dual title of chief and has managed career personnel and hundreds of volunteers for the department serving 93,000 people in a 104-square-mile area that includes State College, Ferguson and College townships and southern Benner Township. The department, which provides automatic mutual aid in Harris and Halfmoon townships as well, responds to about 1,200 incidents per year.
Bair also has been responsible for the Centre Region Fire Marshal’s Office, Centre Region Emergency Management and the Centre Region HazMat Team.
“I would just like to say that it has been an absolute pleasure to be here for 16 years. I just can’t thank you enough for having the opportunity back in 2007,” Bair said on Monday. “I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that I make it look easy because I have really, really good people around me, both the paid and volunteer staff.”
The board president for the Pennsylvania Fire & Emergency Services Institute and a member of the Office of State Fire Commissioner Fire Service Advisory Board, he has been an advocate for improving fire service in Pennsylvania and serves as an expert on effective relationships between local governments and volunteer fire companies throughout the commonwealth.
“Steve has served as a confident and passionate advocate for the Fire Protection Program, its programs, services, staff and countless volunteers to keep our area first responders and the residents of the Centre Region safe,” Francke said. “[His] communication and teamwork have been valued by elected officials and colleagues in the Centre Regio ndue to hi shelpfulness, responsiveness and regular updates to COG committees and the General Forum.”
Ferguson Township’s Board of Supervisors also recognized Bair’s service at its Nov. 15 meeting and plan to present him with a certificate of appreciation.
“His wealth of knowledge will be missed,” Board Vice Chair Lisa Strickland said. “I learn something every time I’m in a meeting with him. I know he’s so highly respected not just in our area but all around the state at least.”
What’s Next
Recruitment of the next Centre Region fire director began in the spring, COG Executive Director Eric Norenberg said. The job description for the position was updated, and elected officials, staff, volunteers and stakeholders participated in a survey to help develop a recruitment brochure and inform future stages of the process, such as topics for interview questions.
Recruiting took place in the summer and fall and screening interviews were conducted in October. Four finalists are expected to participate in an assessment center — an evaluation of skills and abilities related to the position — in early December. A consultant was selected in the spring to conduct an independent assessment center.
“Assessment centers are often used as a critical stage of the selection process for fire and police chiefs and other senior officers,” Norenberg wrote in an email. “All prior chief officer positions in the Fire Program have been successfully filled using the assessment center methodology. This assessment aims to identify the overall best candidate to lead the department.”
The final candidate will need approval from the COG Executive Committee before the appointment is completed.
