We've been truly blessed to get to know Chief Tobia over the last several years. Watching him embrace this community and lead his team with humility has been an absolute privilege. In fact, his approach to leadership is exactly why we're working with the Harrisonburg Professional Firefighters Foundation to launch their "100 Club" initiative through The 2025 LeadershipLegacy Experience!
Matthew Tobia is the Fire Chief with the City of Harrisonburg (VA) Fire Department and is a 37-year student of emergency services. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and is a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer program at the National Fire Academy. Matt has served as a member of the Editorial Board for Fire-Rescue Magazine and has authored over 120 articles. He is the former chair of the International Association of Fire Chief’s Safety, Health and Survival Section, holds the Chief Fire Officer credential and is a member of the Institute of Fire Engineers. Chief Tobia is currently serving on three national task forces commissioned by the United States Fire Administrator addressing Mental Health, Cancer, and Cardiovascular issues within the firefighting community. He also served as the IAFC representative to the NACOSH Task Force charged with creating a new safety standard for firefighters in the United States. Prior to Harrisonburg, Chief Tobia spent 23 years with the Anne Arundel County (MD) Fire Department and four years with Loudoun County (VA) Fire Rescue. Matt began volunteering in south central Pennsylvania in 1987 and is active with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and the Mid Atlantic Burn Camp for Children.
In this session, we'll talk with Chief Tobia about the clear purpose that's drive him throughout his career and the purpose the Harrisonburg Fire Department exists to achieve.
To learn more about Chief Tobia and how he helps the Harrisonburg Fire Department pursue their clear purpose, check out https://www.harrisonburgva.gov/fire
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Cardiac Cowboys
The heart was always off-limits to surgeons. Cutting into it spelled instant death for the patient. That is, until a ragtag group of doctors scattered across the Midwest and Texas decided to throw out the rule book. Working in makeshift laboratories and home garages, using medical devices made from scavenged machine parts and beer tubes, these men and women invented the field of open heart surgery. Odds are, someone you know is alive because of them. So why has history left them behind? Presented by Chris Pine, CARDIAC COWBOYS tells the gripping true story behind the birth of heart surgery, and the young, Greatest Generation doctors who made it happen. For years, they competed and feuded, racing to be the first, the best, and the most prolific. Some appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, operated on kings and advised presidents. Others ended up disgraced, penniless, and convicted of felonies. Together, they ignited a revolution in medicine, and changed the world.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.