Executive Vice President, Public Relations

Executive Vice President, Public Relations

Raúl Castillo

 

A Message from Raúl Castillo I take great pride and joy as the Executive Vice President, Public Relations of the National Association Firefighters. I enjoy working towards a common goal that will benefit our members and communities across the world. Raúl Castillo

In 1972, Lt. Raúl Castillo, migrated with his family from Monterrey, México to the Northern Virginia. He had to learn the English Language, and graduated in 1975 from Arlington County Public Schools. From 1976 to 1982, he served with the United States Navy as a “Hospital Corpsman”, and received an Honorable Discharge.

Since 1982, Lt. Raúl Castillo has been employed with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department as a firefighter/paramedic, providing fire and emergency medical services. During his career, Lt. Castillo has served as the HR Recruitment Supervisor, Fire Station Assistant Commander, EMS Supervisor, Public Information Officer, Equal Employment Opportunity EEO), counselor. He currently serves as an Assistant Fire Marshal, enforcing State Fire Prevention Codes and State Building Codes and as an Critical Incident Stress Management Counselor.

Lt. Castillo is affiliated with many local and national Fire Service and EMS organizations:

Since 1995, Lt. Castillo has served on several executive and leadership board positions with the National Association of Hispanic Firefighters, where he currently serves as the Executive Vice-President of Public Relations.

Founding President, Fairfax Hispanic Firefighters Association.

Human Relations Council, International Association of Fire Chiefs

National Advisory Board, Congressional Fire Service Institute.

National Advisory Board, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

Member of the Hispanic War Veterans of America

National Disabilities Council, National Fire Protection Association

Fire-Safe Cigarettes Coalition, National Fire Protection Association

Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Fairfax, Class of 2005

Virginia Government Communicators, member, 2007-present

Virginia Department Fire Programs, VDFP, Diversity Committee, 2006 to present.

From 1990-2003 he served on the International Urban Search and Rescue team, Virginia Task Force 1, under the US Agency for International Development (USAID-OFDA) /Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency (DHS-FEMA), and deployed to: Oklahoma Bombing, April 1995, Hurricane Fran, North Carolina, Duzce, Turkey’s Earthquake, Colombia, South America’s Earthquake.

During the Pentagon Airplane’s Crash, he served as the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department’s Public Information Officer to national and international Hispanic media. In September 2005, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Lt Castillo was deployed to the to the City of New Orleans to assist local government with emergency management functions at the Emergency Operations Center as member of the Emergency Management Compact Act (EMAC), team. Executive Board, Progresso Hispano Organization, Fairfax County.

For his Honorable service with the United States Navy, his service with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, local and national fire service organizations, Lt. Raúl Castillo has received numerous awards, but his major goal in life is to continue to provide leadership skills to Hispanic firefighters, and needed life safety and fire prevention education to the underprivileged communities, Hispanics and minorities.

Lieutenant Raúl Castillo resides in Franconia, Virginia, with his wife Kelly, and three children, Chris, Betsy, and Amy.

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Roles & Responsibilities of our VP, Public Relations

Reports to the President

Works closely with the President and other staff

Acts as a member of the Executive Board

NAHF Liaison to IAFF

Manages relationships with external organizations (political, corporate, nonprofit…)

Works with the Executive Board in achieving the organization's mission

Schedules strategic meetings with key stake holders

Research and reports current issues and legislation

Participates in strategic planning

Serves as ex officio of the NAHF legislative course of action

Evaluates legislative implications to NAHF

Works with the Exec Board to recommend legislative actions

Participates in Board actions with respect to organizational priorities and concerns

Reviews with the Executive Board any issues of concern to the NAHF

Annually evaluates the performance of the President and the NAHF

Participates closely with the President to develop and implement officer transition plans

Performs other responsibilities as assigned by the President

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Raúl's Contact Information

National Association of Hispanic Firefighters Attn: Raúl Castillo 1220 L Street NW. Suite 100-199 Washington, DC. 20005

Office: (877) 342-6243 ext: 102 Fax: (855) 759-6243 Email: R.Castillo@nahf.org

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