Craig N. Buckley has joined the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority public safety department as an assistant fire chief focused on emergency services. Buckley’s career spans nearly four decades in emergency response and management at the federal, state and local levels.

“Assistant Fire Chief Buckley’s expertise in responding to, and training for, emergency events will benefit the entire Airports Authority community,” said Airports Authority Vice President for Public Safety Bryan Norwood, who oversees the Authority’s police, fire and emergency medical response functions. “Our airport fire and rescue teams respond to a variety of incidents—from passenger medical emergencies to car accidents to mass casualty events—and Assistant Chief Buckley’s leadership will ensure that we are well prepared when called upon.”

Buckley most recently served as the chief of staff for the Department of Homeland Security’s National Incident Management Assistance Team, where he managed the daily operations of a team that oversaw participation in emergency exercises at the national, regional and state levels. He began his career with Fairfax County Department of Fire and Rescue, where he served 25 years as a battalion chief managing the Hazardous Materials Response Team, developing policies and procedures and serving as an agency lead subject matter expert. He later joined the Virginia Department of Emergency Management as the emergency coordinator and hazardous materials officer specializing in hazards management and planning. 

He is a master trainer instructor with the International Association of Fire Fighters and has certifications from the FEMA Emergency Management Institute, National Fire Academy, the National Fire Protection Association and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. Buckley has been recognized for his role in emergency response efforts surrounding Hurricane Katrina and the Sept. 11 terrorist attack at the Pentagon. 

About the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority 
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority operates the U.S. Capital Region’s gateways to the nation and the world, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport, as well as the Dulles Airport Access Highway, the Dulles Toll Road and construction of the Silver Line project, a 23-mile extension of the Metrorail public transit system through northern Virginia. A record 46.6 million passengers passed through the two airports in 2017.