SECRETARY Napolitano Appoints Former North Reading Fire Captain to Science and Technology Advisory Committee

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today announced the appointment of 11 new members to the Homeland Security Science and Technology Advisory Committee (HSSTAC). Among the 11 is retired Chelmsford Fire Chief Jack Parow. Jack, born and raised in North Reading, served on the North Reading Fire Department between 1975 and 1991 before becoming the fire chief in Chelmsford.

Chief Parow retired from Chelmsford Fire Department in 2010 to serve as President and Chairman of the Board of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and is currently a college professor in the MPA program at Anna Maria College in Paxton, MA. 

The HSSTAC provides scientific and technical advice to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Under Secretary for Science and Technology (S&T). The members support the Department’s mission to strengthen America’s security and resiliency by providing knowledge products and innovative technology solutions for the Homeland Security Enterprise.

The HSSTAC consists of leaders and experts in science, technology, systems engineering, innovation and first responder needs. The HSSTAC is one of 26 such advisory committees in DHS and was created by Congress as a statutory committee in 2003 and continued as a discretionary committee in 2009. 

Members are selected based on expertise and application of science and technology solutions to real-world problems. All selected members serve two-year terms on the committee. 
Find more information online.