Fire Chief Edward Plaugher is a distinguished fire service leader whose career spans more than four decades of operational command, national leadership, and emergency preparedness. As Chief of the Arlington County, VA Fire Department, he led the response to the Pentagon terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, guiding lifesaving efforts and fostering unprecedented coordination among local and federal agencies—an approach later praised by the 9/11 Commission and shared nationwide as a model for emergency response. A visionary in disaster readiness, he helped establish the National Medical Response System to strengthen the nation’s ability to respond to terrorism and large-scale emergencies. Following his operational career, Chief Plaugher continued his impact as Assistant Executive Director for National Programs and Consulting Services at the International Association of Fire Chiefs, advancing safety and preparedness initiatives across the fire service. Honored as Career Fire Chief of the Year and commended by the U.S. Senate and Virginia General Assembly, Chief Plaugher’s legacy reflects extraordinary leadership, innovation, and unwavering service to his community and country.