A Long-Time Supporter of the Foundation and Fire Hero Families
Chief Joanne Rund’s commitment to the NFFF is long-standing. Currently serving as the secretary of the Board of Trustees, Joanne has also held the roles of State and Regional Advocate and was an early adopter of the NFFF line-of-duty death prevention programs. She has served as a Flag Presenter at NFFF’s annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend, where she has presented families with folded American flags that have flown over the U.S. Capitol and the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial.
- In Baltimore, Chief Rund led and coordinated the department’s emergency response efforts throughout multiple major incidents, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse; previously, she spent 32 years with the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services. Prior to joining the fire service in 1987, Rund served as a volunteer emergency services provider (EMS) in Carroll County.
- She holds numerous certifications in the field of health and safety, has obtained the National Fire Academy’s Advanced Safety Officer Program certification, and serves as associate faculty at the University of Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute.
In her new role, Chief Rund will oversee NFFF’s Family Programs, providing year-round services to families of firefighters honored at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, MD. This includes donation-funded kids’ camps, family retreats, peer support, and scholarships for children, stepchildren, and spouses of honored firefighters.
We are thrilled to welcome Joanne to the NFFF staff. Her impact on the Foundation has already been felt via her engaged role on NFFF’s Board of Directors. Now, her leadership will have an even more direct connection to the most treasured members of the Foundation’s community: our Fire Hero Families.
