Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration – Regis University; Associates of Applied Sciences, Paramedic – Pratt Community College; National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer – United States Fire Administration; Center for Public Safety Chief Fire Officer Designation
Tom DeMint was the fire chief of the Poudre Fire Authority (PFA) in Fort Collins, Colorado from June 2011 to June 2021. He is respected as an effective leader that is driven, versatile and enthusiastic. As a highly experienced trainer, teacher and mentor, focused on continued growth and improvement, Tom saw the PFA receive accreditation from the Commission of Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) twice, reduced the community’s ISO rating, developed two strategic plans, implemented collective bargaining, opened new stations and new services, and led the initial responses to COVID-19 pandemic. Tom has broad experience with emergency management as he led the PFA through the two largest wildfires in Colorado history (the High Park and Cameron Peak Fires) as well as the devastating floods of 2013.
Aware of current local social, economic, and political priorities, Tom has been a reliable, efficient, resourceful, innovative, proactive, and responsive leader. He reported directly to the Poudre Fire Authority Board of Directors, the Fort Collins City Council, and the Poudre Valley Fire Protection District Board of Directors. Tom is the immediate Past President of the Colorado State Fire Chiefs (CSFC).
For five years, Tom served as the President of the Board of Directors for the Front Range Fire Consortium Authority. This public board oversees fire recruit and incumbent training for fire departments throughout Northern Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. This organization continued to grow under Tom’s leadership. Tom is the Co-Chair of the Fort Collins 9-11 Memorial fund raising committee and a member of the Fort Collins Fire Museum Committee. He also has extensive experience with fire prevention and fire code instruction, having conducted classes through the United States, the Middle East, and the Caribbean.
Tom has been a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Metro Fire Planners, Fire Marshals Association of Colorado, the International Code Council, and Partnership for Aging Friendly Communities. He is recognized as a Credentialed Chief Fire Officer by the Commission on Professional Credentialing and is a Level 2 Peer Assessor for the CFAI.
