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The Officers and Members of the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company are proud to submit the name of one of our members for the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighters Association Hall of Fame Award. Charles D. Rogers, Sr. joined the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company on May 10, 1977. Chuck immediately became one of our company’s top responders, achieving the award of Top Responder in 1978, just a year and a half after joining the company. His interest and love for firefighting became immediately evident and Chuck became actively interested in the emergency response as well as training aspects of the fire service. In 1981, Chuck was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, in 1982 to the rank of Captain, in 1986 to the rank of Assistant Chief, and in 1992 became the Chief of our Company. Since his initial appointment, Chuck has served three separate appointments as Chief of the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company. As Chief of the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company, Chuck put the interest of the company first and taken numerous strides to better our fire suppression capabilities. He has introduced new technologies and techniques into our firefighting capabilities and placed training as our highest priority in order to ensure that our personnel are prepared for an all-hazards response role. As a MFRI certified instructor, Chuck lobbies hard to acquire direct delivery training courses for our personnel and often teaches them in a no-pay status in order to ensure that our personnel receive the training. Chuck is a career Lieutenant with the Baltimore County Fire Department. Never has he let his two roles conflict with one another and despite his standing as a career employee, he has never lost his love and respect for the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company. Although he resides within Baltimore County, you would think that he lives in the greater Odenton area, as evident from the amount of time that he spends in the fire station. His family accepts his love for the fire service and his son, Charles D. Rogers, Jr., was recently hired on as a career firefighter with the Anne Arundel County Fire Department. Most recently, Chief Rogers has been called on to support many of the issues facing the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighters Association. Many of our member companies are failing to rise to their tasks and can no longer sustain an active role in the incident response area. As the Chief of one of the strongest volunteer fire companies, and one of the most outspoken, Chief Rogers was asked to take on a leadership role to help motivate others to increase their participation. Chuck has taken on this challenge with much vigor and although some companies have felt stepped upon by Chuck’s harsh words, many others have begun to show an increase in volunteer participation. The successes of the past year in increasing volunteer participation can be directly attributed to the efforts of Chief Rogers. 2023 Inducted into the Maryland Fire Chiefs Association Hall of Fame
CHARLES D. “CHUCK” ROGERS, SR. On April 15, 2023, Past Chief Charles D. “Chuck” Rogers, Sr. was inducted in the Maryland Fire Chiefs (MFCA) Hall of Fame. Chuck joined the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company (OVFC) on April 12, 1977. He was trained and cleared to ride in short order, Chuck became one of the most active responders and was the Top Responder in 1978. Over his tenure of nearly 46 years with OVFC, he has fulfilled many roles, including all suppression line officer positions, several terms as a member of the Board of Directors, and as a chairperson or member of numerous committees, including the Apparatus Committee and the Training Committee. He rapidly progressed through the officer ranks, ultimately serving as Fire Chief from 1992 to 1994, in 1996, and again from 2001 to 2007. Chuck is recognized as a dynamic leader in the fire station and on an emergency scene, and throughout the fire service community. He is known to be outspoken when the need arises and has never shied away from standing up for the volunteer fire service in general, and particularly for Odenton, against any perceived threat, whatever the source. On one occasion Chief Rogers strongly objected to a policy change by the Anne Arundel County Fire Department that was detrimental to the volunteers and was demoted to Captain in retaliation by the County Fire Chief. As this would set a dangerous precedence for the volunteer rank structure, he gathered political support and was able to restore his rank as Volunteer Chief. Chuck introduced many innovations to improve the company’s operational capabilities. OVFC had the first rescue engine in Anne Arundel County even after being told that there would never be a use for such an apparatus. OVFC was one of the first companies to have a large diameter supply hose and a thermal imagining camera. He ensured OVFC had the latest extrication equipment, and for a period, OVFC was the only station in the County that had two rescue-equipped apparatus. Odenton had the first vehicle exhaust recovery system. He was a strong proponent of crew accountability. Chief Rogers also has an outstanding record of support to the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighters Association (AACVFA). He served numerous terms on the AACVFA Chief’s Committee, including several terms as the Chair. He was a long time delegate to the AACVFA and regularly attended the meetings to ensure that the voice of the volunteer was being heard by the County administration. Chief Rogers was inducted into the AACVFA Hall of Fame in 2003 and was named the Association’s “Individual of the Year” in 2004. Chief Rogers has been a member of the MFCA for 17 years, just 3 years shy of becoming a life member. He has always supported the activities of the MFCA and attended the annual Chief Officers Seminar to continue his learning as a fire service leader. In more recent years Chuck became more active with the Maryland State Firemen’s Association (MSFA) as an OVFC delegate at the annual MSFA convention and working with the Exhibits Committee to organize the various vendors and displays. Chuck assists in supervising the Saturday set-up, Sunday move-in, and then helping staff the exhibits command post on Monday through Wednesday. Then he goes into action again supervising the vendor move-out. For his sustained commitment to the volunteer fire service and to the MSFA, Chief Rogers was inducted into the MSFA Hall of Fame in 2017. Continuing his love for the fire service, Chuck was hired by the Baltimore County Fire Department and graduated from its Fire Academy in 1983. His multiple assignments included long service at Dundalk and the Training Academy. He was awarded the Bronze Star for heroism in 1986. He was promoted to Lieutenant, later to Director, and served in various posts including Safety and Logistics. He retired as Division Chief. Despite becoming a career firefighter, Chuck has never forgotten his roots and has remained an active participant with the OVFC. Chuck became an Emergency Services Instructor with the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute in 1987. He taught a variety of subjects around the state and served in the demanding role of “Safety Officer” during practical training evolutions, including live burns. Chief Rogers has long used his teaching credentials and skills to the benefit of his career and volunteer departments, often teaching without pay to ensure that needed training was available to his personnel. Other recognitions bestowed on Chief Rogers include the Odenton Chamber of Commerce Firefighter of the Year Award, 1981; Anne Arundel County Fire Department Exemplary Performance Award, May 1981; Congressional Certificate of Merit, October 1986; and, the Medal for Heroism by the Sons of the American Revolution, April 1987. Charles Rogers has dutifully served the interests of the OVFC and the fire service in Anne Arundel County, the citizens and Fire Department of Baltimore County, and the citizens and fire service in Maryland for nearly 46 years. Chief Rogers has served as a role model, mentor, and motivator for all who have worked with him. |
