Chief W. Keith Brower, Jr. has been a Special Projects Consultant for the Foundation since June 2019. His primary role is to represent the Foundation on the Vision 20/20 Steering Committee however he is also responsible for developing content and training to increase awareness for Life Safety Initiatives #14 and #15. In 2020, Chief Brower became an Advocate under the “Everyone Goes Home” program.
Chief Brower retired from the Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue Service (LC-CFRS) in 2018 following 45 years of career and volunteer service. He began his career in the Purcellville Volunteer Fire Company in January 1973. Following his graduation from Bridgewater College in 1978, where he also volunteered for the local fire company, he worked for the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department from 1978 to 1984. In that year he accepted a position as the Fire Training Coordinator for Loudoun County where he also served as the Operations Deputy and Chief Fire Marshal until 2010 when he was appointed as the County Fire Chief.
Chief Brower’s accomplishments include participating in the design and management of the Oliver R. Dube Fire Training Academy, overseeing the re-write and re-adoption of the Loudoun County Fire Prevention Code, serving at the Pentagon on 9/11 and becoming the first Countywide “System” Chief following the consolidation of the County Fire and Rescue Department and the 15 Volunteer Fire and EMS companies into a single operational entity in 2014.
Chief Brower has been recognized for his passion for fire and life safety education and has pursued efforts to ensure the development of effective fire and building codes, to include residential fire sprinklers. This passion was elevated following the May 25, 2008 residential fire at 43238 Meadowood Court, where 4 Loudoun County firefighters nearly lost their lives. From this experience, which is chronicled on NFPA’s “Faces of Fire” series, it became clear that educating the public on the methods to prevent fires and reduce their impacts carries the dual benefit of reducing risk to firefighters.
Chief Brower possesses numerous professional certifications. In 2018 he was recognized as a “Chief Fire Officer” by the Center for Public Safety Excellence and was honored as the Governor of Virginia’s “Career Fire Chief of the Year.” In 2019, Chief Brower was given the “Distinguished Alumni” award by Bridgewater College.
Chief Brower and his wife Cheryl, live in Beaufort, SC where have the privilege to enjoy family, including a 2-year-old grandson. Of note, they live in a home protected by a residential fire sprinkler system.
