Donnell Roberts
Kansas City,MO
Summary
Accomplished Fire Officer with over 20 years of progressive experience in emergency management and public safety leadership. Demonstrated success in strategic planning, operational oversight, and interagency coordination to ensure effective emergency response and community resilience. Recognized for driving organizational excellence, upholding the highest ethical standards, and fostering a culture of safety, professionalism, and inclusivity.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Diversity and Community Outreach Officer
KCFD
07.2022 - Current
- Partner with leadership to ensure compliance with organizational policies and strengthen operational effectiveness in alignment with FEMA’s mission to coordinate federal disaster assistance.
- Design and implement diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategies that foster inclusive hiring practices and build robust talent pipelines to enhance recruitment and engagement.
- Facilitate clear and consistent communication between management and staff, streamlining workflows and improving employee engagement, which is critical to maintaining effective coordination during emergency operations.
- Cultivate and sustain collaborative partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders to align resources with community objectives, ensuring efficient and effective disaster response and recovery.
- Oversee onboarding programs and training budgets to optimize resource utilization, enhance staff readiness, and accelerate new hire performance.
- Support emergency management planning initiatives by identifying operational needs, developing comprehensive response strategies, and implementing effective preparedness programs.
CAPTAIN
KCFD
12.2019 - 06.2022
- Served as Incident Commander for multi-alarm emergencies, directing response operations and ensuring adherence to established policies, safety standards, and best practices.
- Coordinated large-scale response and recovery efforts with other cities, assessing emergency needs and overseeing the effective deployment of resources and personnel.
- Led a geographically dispersed team during critical incidents, enhancing operational efficiency and ensuring unified, coordinated action across multiple jurisdictions.
- Developed and delivered fire prevention and public safety education programs to strengthen community preparedness and resilience, aligning initiatives with FEMA’s mitigation and outreach objectives.
- Analyzed and interpreted emergency management program policies and guidelines to support disaster field operations, ensuring compliance with NIMS.
- Assessed team performance and implemented targeted development strategies to address skills gaps, promote professional growth, and sustain a culture of operational excellence and continuous improvement.
Firefighter
KCFD
01.2005 - 12.2019
- Responded to over 4,000 emergency medical and fire incidents annually, delivering lifesaving care and effectively managing hazardous materials events to protect lives and property.
- Developed and implemented fire safety and prevention plans that increased community preparedness and awareness, contributing to reductions in fire-related incidents.
- Conducted on-site risk assessments and coordinated rescue operations with local, state, and federal partners, ensuring safe and efficient outcomes in high-pressure emergency environments.
- Collaborated with diverse stakeholders to design and deliver emergency management programs, resulting in improved interagency coordination and enhanced community resilience across region or jurisdiction.
Education
Master of Public Administration - Public Administration
Park University
Kansas City, MOBachelor of Science - Criminal Justice
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Denver, COSkills
- Incident Management
- Professional Development
- Public Administration
- Prevention Strategies
- Emergency Response Procedures
- Search and Rescue Operations
- Emergency Preparedness
- Employee Engagement Strategies
- Statistical Data Analysis
- Public Speaking Abilities
- Environmental Impact Management
- Community Relations
Certification
- National Fire Academy- Executive Officer Program, 2025-2026
- Harvard University Senior Executives in State and Local Government, 2026
- Carl Holmes Executive Fire Leadership Institute, Dillard University
- National Fire Academy, New Executive Officer
- Grant Writing I &II, University Of Missouri
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Certification, Cornell University - 2022
- ICS, 700
- ICS, 300
- ICS, 200
- ICS, 100
- Fire Instructor I
- EMT B
- Firefighter I and II
- Private Pilot
Timeline
Diversity and Community Outreach Officer
KCFD
07.2022 - Current
CAPTAIN
KCFD
12.2019 - 06.2022
Firefighter
KCFD
01.2005 - 12.2019
Master of Public Administration - Public Administration
Park University
Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice
Metropolitan State University of Denver