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Leeanna Mims, Fire Chief (Ret.)

Instructor · National Center for Integrated Emergency Response

Personal Profile

Leeanna Mims retired as Fire Chief of the Seminole County Fire Department after 30 years in the fire service. She began her career with Longwood Fire & Rescue then later promoted to operations Battalion Chief. In 1999, Leeanna graduated from the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program and has degrees in business, fire, and emergency medical services. She obtained her Master's degree in Homeland Defense and Security from the Center of Homeland Defense and Security, Naval Postgraduate School.

She has served as fire co-chair for Florida's Regional Domestic Security Task Force, Regional Coordinator of the State of Florida's Emergency Response Plan, co-chair of EMS/Fire Education Advisory Committee for Seminole State College, past Chair Central Florida Task Force 4 Urban Search and Rescue Team, Subject Matter Expert for Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology working group for first responders, and trained to serve as a GO team member for the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Chief Mims was labeled as a trailblazer by the Orlando Sentinel, and has received numerous awards for her achievements.
Leeanna Mims

Experience

National Center for Integrated Emergency Response
Oviedo, Florida, 2021 - Current
Instructor
Leeanna brings her 30+ years of EMS/Fire/Rescue services to the NCIER team. She provides highly skilled experience in Public Safety, Emergency Management, Preparedness, Rescue, and Disaster Response.
ncier.org
Florida State Fire Marshal
2019 - 2021
Health and Safety Liaison
As a Health and Safety Inspector, she reviewed, responded to, and investigated safety-related concerns for fire department organizations across Florida.
myfloridacfo.com/division/sfm
Emergency Services Consulting International
2016 - 2017
Consultant
Leeanna served as a Public Safety Project Consultant for industry clients seeking assistance in administration, planning, training, logistics and/or finance related needs for their organizations.
esci.us
Florida Regional Domestic Security Task Force
Stuart, FL, 2008 - 2013
Fire Committee Co-Chair
Leeanna had strategic input for Florida's domestic security planning. She worked with other first response disciplines to gain unity in the mission and was a voting member for prioritization of funds for grant dissemination.
fdle.state.fl.us/domestic-security/organization
Seminole County Department of Public Safety
Seminole County, FL, 2005 - 2015
Fire Chief
Leeanna served as Fire Chief for Seminole County, an all-hazards metropolitan-sized organization providing services to over 400,000 residents. During her leadership tenure, multiple mergers of municipal fire services occurred, a 44,000+ square foot regional training and logistics center was opened, CAAS accreditation status was achieved and the ISO rating was improved from a 4/9 to a 2/2Y. In her service time, she promoted over 100 officer positions and branded an entirely new hiring and promotional process for the organization.
seminolecountyfl.gov
Longwood Fire Department
Longwood, FL, 1984 - 1999
Battalion Chief
Leeanna successfully tested and promoted through ranks to include firefighter, engineer, lieutenant and battalion chief. She also worked to change state legislation to allow fire engines to deliver advanced life support care.
longwoodfl.org/180/Fire-Rescue

“Believes public safety is about going above & beyond to serve communities and keep responders safe.”

Knowledge & Skills

Fire, EMS, and Emergency Response
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
30+ years fire and EMS progressive experience from Volunteer to Fire Chief. Training and instructional expert with speciality in Active Shooter response. Response and leadership experience with municipal, county and state emergency response organizations.
Incident Management
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Knowledgeable in NIMS, ICS and Unified command. Has served in deployment roles of strike team/task force leader and planning section chief for disasters to include brush fires, hurricanes and tornadoes. Has served as an emergency services branch chief during state EOC activations. This role involves direction of fire, EMS, health, search and rescue and law enforcement efforts across county and state lines. Nationally trained as an all hazards liaison officer and as a go team command member for the dissolved IAFC assistance program.
Training and Instruction
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Past Florida Instructor Level 3 certified, past conference speaker for IAFC/FRI, FFCA/Fire Rescue East, IAFC ESLI and former adjunct EMS instructor for Seminole State College, Technical Advisor NFA. Expert in firefighter health and safety best practices.
Information Technology
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Served two years as an SME for DHS's Science and Technology Directorate. Current product Advisor for firefighter improved safety equipment.

Specialities

  • Organizational Leadership
  • Crisis Command/Control
  • Professional Speaker
  • Instructor III
  • Fire Dynamics
  • Firefighter / Paramedic (FL)
  • Exercise Design and Evaluation
  • Emergency Management
  • Strategic Planning
  • Community Collaboration/Partnership Building
  • Budget Management
  • Labor/Management Practices

Accomplishments

NIMS Certifications
IS-100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800, 0042, AWR 232, S440.
National Domestic Preparedness Consortium (NDPC)
Instructor Certificate. PER 353, PER 352.
National Conference Faculty
2010-2015 IAFC Fire/Rescue International National Conference Speaker. FFCA Fire/Rescue East. IAFC FSEDI Presenter and Speaker.
Professional Organizations
2004-2012 USAR Florida Task Force 4: early development assistance and eventual chair. 2006-2015 Fire/EMS Education College Advisory: committee member and eventual chair 2004-2006.
Awards
Girl Scouts: 2009 Women of Distinction. Orlando Sentinel: Trailblazing Women of Magic.
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