Foundation Board Member Named to State Building Standards Commission
Governor Jerry Brown has again added a firefighter voice to a critical oversight board whose decisions have an impact on firefighter and public safety.
This week, Brown named long-time Davis firefighter and former chief Rose Conroy to serve on the California Building Standards Commission.
Conroy served for over three decades as a member of the Davis Fire Department, rising from the ranks to become the first woman to serve as chief of a professional municipal fire department.
“Front line firefighters have an obvious stake in the safety and integrity of any structure – it can literally mean life or death in a serious incident,” said Conroy. “I am honored to have been appointed and will work hard to bring a first responder perspective to building codes.
Established in 1953, the Building Standards Commission (BSC) is responsible for administering California's building codes, including adopting, approving, publishing, and implementing codes and standards. As such, it has significant authority, making decisions on issues of importance to the safety of the public as well as that of firefighters.
Conroy started her career as a Davis firefighter in 1979, rising to the rank of captain in 1985. She was named as chief of the Davis Fire Department in 1994, serving until her retirement in 2010. Conroy’s image was one of four firefighter images used as models for “Holding The Line”, one of two statues that grace the California Firefighters Memorial. She currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the California Fire Foundation.
“Rose brings credibility and a deep understanding of the critical safety issues affecting firefighters, from both a labor and management perspective,” concluded California Professional Firefighters President Lou Paulson. “Governor Brown has made an excellent choice to fill this important position.”
