Pierce Manufacturing Inc. and the International Association of Fire Chiefs have announced the 2026 IAFC Fire Chief of the Year honorees, recognizing leaders from South Dakota and Texas for their contributions to the fire service.
Volunteer Fire Chief Gail Schmidt of the Rockerville Volunteer Fire Department in Rapid City, South Dakota, and Career Fire Chief Amy Ramon of the Cy-Fair Fire Department in Houston, Texas, have been named this year’s recipients.
The awards were presented during Fire-Rescue International in Kansas City, Missouri. Since 1996, the IAFC has recognized one volunteer and one career fire chief each year for outstanding service, with nominations assessed on leadership, innovation, professional development, integrity, public service and contributions to the fire service.
“We are honored to recognize Chief Schmidt and Chief Ramon, two exceptional leaders who have dedicated their careers to strengthening the fire service and protecting the people they serve,” said Marty Bass, president of Pierce Manufacturing. “Their accomplishments reflect the very best of fire service leadership which include vision, integrity, resilience and a deep commitment to their teams and communities. Pierce Manufacturing is privileged to join the IAFC in celebrating these two remarkable chiefs and the lasting impact of their service.”
Chief Gail Schmidt has served more than three decades in the volunteer fire service and has led the all-volunteer Rockerville Volunteer Fire Department since 2014.
Her work has focused on operational readiness, firefighter health and safety, professional development and regional collaboration across Pennington County and the Black Hills region.
Among her major achievements was leading a multi-year effort to address limited rural water supply in the department’s response area. The project created a district-owned water system with 60,000 gallons of storage and a hydrant capable of delivering 600 gallons per minute at the department’s main station.
Schmidt also led a regional grant initiative that secured more than $915,000, representing more than $1 million in equipment value, to replace obsolete radios and pagers and improve interoperability among emergency response agencies throughout Pennington County.
Her service has also included support for firefighter physical and behavioral health, mental health resources for volunteer firefighters in South Dakota, regional training programs and specialized search and rescue roles. During the 2019 search for a missing nine-year-old child, Schmidt committed 65 operational days and traveled more than 750 miles on foot.
Chief Amy Ramon has more than three decades of fire service experience and has served as fire chief of the Cy-Fair Fire Department since 2014.
Under Ramon’s leadership, Cy-Fair has grown from a primarily volunteer organization, with only four of 13 stations staffed with 24-hour fire suppression coverage, into one of the largest combination fire departments in Texas and the United States.
The department now serves nearly 600,000 residents while continuing to expand staffing, infrastructure and emergency response capabilities for a rapidly growing community.
Ramon has also prioritized firefighter health and safety. She championed a comprehensive mental health program offering counseling and proactive behavioral health resources, achieving more than 54 percent utilization, and advanced cancer screening initiatives to support early detection for firefighters.
Her leadership beyond Cy-Fair includes work with regional and statewide fire service organizations, development of future fire service leaders and advocacy for firefighter health, safety and sustainable emergency services. A past Texas Fire Chief of the Year honoree, Ramon is recognized for guiding a complex organization through sustained growth and change.
Schmidt and Ramon were selected for achievements that IAFC said demonstrate the highest standards of leadership in the fire service. Their 2026 recognition reflects decades of service, organizational growth, firefighter support and community-focused emergency response.
