James “Robby” Dawson is the Southeastern Regional Director for the National Fire Protection Association. In that position he advocates for fire safety, code development and adoption, and conducts presentations nationally on topics associated with Community Risk Reduction, standards and regulations, leadership, emergency operations, and management. Robby is a 32-year veteran of the Chesterfield (Virginia) Fire and EMS Department where he served as an Assistant Chief of the Community Risk Reduction Branch. His responsibilities included the management of the fire marshals office, public education section, community relations, media and public affairs officers, and the county’s Emergency Management Office.

He has served on a number of boards and national codes development committees including Virginia’s Fire Services Board, the International Fire Marshals Board of Directors, the International Code Council’s Means of Egress Committee, the NFPA Technical Committee on Fire Prevention Organization and Deployment (NFPA550, 551, 901, 950, 1250, 1452, 1600, 1620, and 1730), and the NFPA Technical Committee on Hazardous Waste.

He holds a Bachelors degree from the University of Richmond in Emergency Services Management, a Masters degree in Business Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University, and is an Accredited Chief Fire Officer by the Center for Public Safety Excellence.