• More than a decade of executive fire service leadership in one of North Dakota’s fastest-growing communities.

  • Led the transformation of a legacy volunteer/combination organization into a modern municipal career fire department.

  • Guided the department through CFAI accreditation, implementing a data-driven framework for continuous improvement, performance measurement, and organizational accountability.

  • Led multiple strategic planning cycles, translating community needs and organizational priorities into measurable, implementable initiatives.

  • Extensive experience in staffing, deployment, and service-delivery analysis, including rapidly changing demand and evolving community risk.

  • Led major fire-service capital planning and development, including station planning, procurement, design, construction, and elected-body decision support.

  • Brings both operational and municipal executive perspectives, combining fire-service leadership with public administration, budgeting, governance, policy, and long-range planning.

MPA • Executive Fire Officer (EFO) • National Preparedness Leadership Initiative (NPLI) • CFAI Accredited Agency Executive Leadership

Founder & Principal

Daniel Richard Fuller, MPA, EFO

Daniel Richard Fuller, MPA, EFO, is the Founder and Principal of FireLead Consulting, a specialized advisory firm serving fire departments and municipal leaders. He brings more than 25 years of public safety experience across fire service leadership, emergency medical services, law enforcement support, and military service.

Dan currently serves as Fire Chief of the West Fargo Fire Department, leading one of the fastest-growing fire departments in North Dakota. His career reflects a deep understanding of fire service operations, municipal governance, organizational change, and long-range strategic planning.

Professional Experience

As Fire Chief, Dan directs all aspects of fire department operations, including fire suppression, emergency medical services, technical rescue, hazardous materials response, and emergency management. His leadership experience includes:

  • Achieving Accredited Agency Status with the Center for Public Safety Excellence

  • Transitioning a department from a volunteer fire company to a fully municipal career fire department

  • Developing and implementing five-year strategic plans over multiple cycles

  • Leading long-term staffing expansion

  • Planning, funding, and constructing large scale building projects

  • Optimizing response times through expansion of exiting infrastructure

  • Standardizing fleet replacement and capital planning

Dan has also served in command and operational roles with the Minot Rural Fire Department and Minot Fire Department, including assignment as Operations Section Chief for the North Dakota Incident Management Team and as a Tactical Paramedic supporting law enforcement special operations.

Advisory & Leadership Focus

Through FireLead Consulting, Dan provides independent advisory services focused on:

  • Fire service leadership and organizational assessment

  • Strategic planning aligned with municipal governance and fiscal realities

  • Executive advisory during organizational transition or complexity

  • Leadership development and succession planning

  • Subject matter expert analysis, reporting, and testimony for legal and administrative proceedings

His advisory approach emphasizes clarity, accountability, and long-term organizational sustainability.

Education & Executive Development

Dan holds advanced academic and executive credentials, including:

  • Master of Public Administration (MPA), Fire Rescue Specialization – Anna Maria College

  • Bachelor of Science, Fire Science Administration - Waldorf College

  • Executive Fire Officer (EFO) – National Fire Academy

  • National Preparedness Leadership Initiative – Harvard University

His executive education emphasizes crisis leadership, meta-leadership, community-wide coordination, and executive decision-making under complex conditions.

Professional Leadership & Recognition

Dan actively contributes to the broader fire service profession through leadership and advisory roles, including:

  • State Director, Missouri Valley Division – International Association of Fire Chiefs

  • Board Member, North Dakota Fire Chiefs Association

  • Subject Matter Expert, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

  • Fire Science and Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board memberships

  • Nominee for IAFC Fire Chief of the Year

He has also served on ethics, education, and certification advisory boards at the state and regional level.

Military & Public Service

Dan honorably served as a Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force, where he earned multiple awards and commendations for leadership and life-saving actions. His military service continues to inform his disciplined, mission-focused leadership approach.

Professional Approach

Dan is known for a measured, analytical, and professional advisory style. His work prioritizes:

  • Defensible, well-documented recommendations

  • Data-driven analysis

  • Awareness of municipal risk and public accountability

  • Long-term leadership and organizational durability

He approaches every engagement with discretion, independence, and respect for public trust.

FireLead Consulting is an independent consulting practice. References to Dan Fuller's public-sector experience are provided for professional background and do not imply endorsement or affiliation by the City of West Fargo.