Fred Windisch

Fire Chief, Ponderosa Fire Department

F. C. (Fred) Windisch, EFO CFO, began his volunteer fire service career in 1972, and is Fire Chief of the Ponderosa Fire Department (Houston, Texas). He served as the CEO/Fire Marshal of the Harris County Fire and Emergency Services Department (2000-2002), the third most populous county in the nation. Fred has been a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs since 1985, is a charter member of the Volunteer & Combination Officers Section, and was Chairman and is currently the VCOS Secretary-Treasurer. He was selected as the Fire Chief Magazine Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year (2000), has co-authored a book, A Leadership Guide For Combination Fire Departments. Fred retired from Shell Chemical Company as a Senior Safety Specialist working with health, safety and environmental issues. Fred also served as Fire Chief of the facility's fire brigade and managed its fire, EMS, Hazmat, and Rescue teams. Fred and Theresa have been married since 1969. Their son, Scott, is a Battalion Chief with The Woodlands Fire Department and Deputy Chief with Ponderosa. Their grandson, Cody, is currently a senior attending the University of Texas Tyler with a major in business.