Virginia Beach Fire Department’s Deputy Chief, Vance Cooper, Sworn in as the President of the Virginia Fire Chiefs Association (VFCA)

Today, Virginia Beach Fire Department’s Deputy Chief, Vance Cooper, was sworn in as the President of the Virginia Fire Chiefs Association at the opening ceremony for the Virginia Fire Rescue Conference 2024 held at the Virginia Beach Convention Center.

Chief Cooper has served on the board of the VFCA since 2018 and most recently as the 1^st Vice President.  In addition, Cooper has served the Virginia Beach Fire Department since 1990. He currently holds the rank of Deputy Chief of Operations and has served in that capacity since 2016. Cooper has worked in multiple operations assignments as well as most staff functions, including being a task force leader for Virginia Task Force Two (VA-TF2) Urban Search and Rescue Team.

Chief Cooper holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Fire Administration from Hampton University and a Master of Public Administration Degree from Old Dominion University. He is also a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program, accredited as a Chief Fire Officer, a graduate of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, and successfully completed the West Point School of Leadership.

The Virginia Fire Chiefs Association, (VFCA) serves the communities of Virginia through its fire service leaders and advances the fire and rescue service through leadership, education, and advocacy. The VFCA Legislative Committee works year-round to identify and lobby for legislation that protects firefighters across the Commonwealth and makes the fire service safer. It is not just for fire chiefs; it is open to everyone who serves and protects communities in Virginia.