How We Are Organized
The 9,000 IAFF members in Washington State are organized into 112 union locals, which make up the WSCFF. Find a district map here. The locals are divided into 10 districts. Each district elects a representative to the WSCFF Board, which is made up of the 10 district representatives, a President, Secretary/Treasurer, and Vice President. Elections are held at an annual convention. Board members, all of whom are active or recently retired fire fighters, serve two-year terms. Three trustees, also elected by the membership, oversee the organization’s operations. An IAFF 7th District Vice President, elected by members in Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska, works closely with the governing board and represents members at the international level.
WSCFF Legislative Liaisons
The WSCFF employs two legislative liaisons and a session lobbyist. Together with the President, Secretary-Treasurer, and Vice President, they serve as the legislative team. Based on resolutions adopted at convention, and recommendations from the district representatives, the team develops and implements political action programs for the members of the WSCFF. This includes researching, reviewing, and monitoring proposed legislation, meeting with legislators, providing briefings to members, and coordinating political endorsements.
Leadership Team
Dennis Lawson
PresidentWSCFF President Dennis Lawson was hired as a fire fighter by the City of Puyallup in 1987. He worked as a Battalion Chief and represented the Chief Bargaining Unit for Central Pierce Fire and Rescue until his retirement in May, 2022. Active in the union since his first days on the job, Lawson has served as an elected leader since 1988 and has held all elected positions on the Local 726 Pierce County Professional Firefighters board. He was elected WSCFF Trustee in 1994 and 4th District Representative in 2001. He was elected Vice President in 2007, and became President in 2016. Lawson has served as an IAFF State Field Service Representative and is one of 25 IAFF instructors who deliver information on behalf of the IAFF Education Department across North America. In 2017 he was appointed to the Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters (LEOFF) Plan 2 Retirement Board, and now serves as chair of the LEOFF Plan 2 board. In 2023, he was unanimously elected as chair of the IAFF Federation of State & Provincial Fire Fighters (FSPPFF), comprised of officers from fire fighter associations across the United States and Canada. Lawson shares the legacy of fire fighting and union membership with his family. His father was a Tacoma fire fighter and member of Local 31, and his brother works in Vancouver and belongs to Local 452.
Greg Markley
Secretary/TreasurerA fire fighter for the City of Kent since 1984, Greg Markley now serves as a Battalion Chief for the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority where he oversees governmental relations, accreditation and grant programs. He was elected a WSCFF District Representative and joined the Executive Board in 1997, and was elected Secretary/Treasurer in 2003. Markley chairs the Post-Retirement Medical Expense Reimbursement Plan (MERP) and the IAFF Health & Wellness Trust. In addition, he is the Treasurer of the Bates Technical College Foundation and has volunteered for the Muscular Dystrophy Association through Local 1747 Kent Fire Fighters for over three decades. In 2017, he was appointed by Governor Jay Inslee as one of seven members of the Washington State Investment Board, and he was elected WSIB chair in 2023. Markley is also on the board and chairs the Washington State Firefighter Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee.
Dean Shelton
Vice-President/8th DistrictDean Shelton began his career as a Bremerton fire fighter in 1995. Since 1997 he has worked for the Marysville Fire District and currently serves as Battalion Chief-Medical Services. Shelton served as Skagit County Fire Commissioner from 1998-2015. He was appointed to the Washington State Fire Protection Policy Board by Governor Christine Gregoire in 2010. A proud member of IAFF Local 3219 Marysville, Shelton served as the local’s Secretary Treasurer, and President. He was elected to the WSCFF Board in 2008 and represents 691 members in 11 IAFF affiliate locals that comprise the WSCFF 8th District. In 2018, he was elected WSCFF Vice President.
Locals: 106 Bellingham/Whatcom, 1537 Anacortes, 1983 Mount Vernon, 3219 Marysville, 3438 North County RFA, 3911 San Juan Medics, 4111 Burlington, 4299 Central Whidbey, 4504 Oak Harbor, 5133 Whidbey Island Paramedics, 5212 South Whidbey.
Legislative Districts: 10, 38, 39, 40, 42.
Congressional Districts: 1, 2.
Ricky Walsh
IAFF 7th District Vice PresidentRicky Walsh became a career professional fire fighter with the City of Hermiston, Oregon in 1983. In 1986 he was hired as a City of Richland fire fighter and worked as a paramedic, Lieutenant, and Engine Company Captain, and served as the department’s training officer. He retired in 2013. Ricky was elected Secretary/Treasurer of the Hermiston Fire Fighters Local 2752 in 1983. In 1988 he was elected Vice President of Richland Fire Fighters Local 1052 in 1990, and served as Negotiations Chair for 22 years. An active participants in WSCFF issues, Ricky was elected to the Executive Board in 1993. He was elected Vice President in 1996 and served in that position until he was elected to the IAFF Executive Board as the 7th District Vice President in 2004.
Ryan Reese
1st DistrictRyan Reese, the son of a professional fire fighter, became a volunteer fire fighter at 16 and was hired at the age of 23 as a firefighter/paramedic. He works as a Captain and paramedic with Clark County Fire District 6 in Vancouver, Washington. Reese serves as President for Local 452, Vancouver. Reese chairs the WSCFF Public Relations Committee. He was elected WSCFF District Representative in 2018; He represents 630 members in 12 IAFF local affiliates in Southwest Washington.
Locals: 451 Riverside Fire Authority, 452 Vancouver, 828 Longview, 2444 East Clark Professional Fire Fighters, 2510 Chehalis, 3375 Longview Chiefs, 3674 Clark County, 3828 Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue, 4447 Cowlitz County 5, 4574 Skamania, 5172 Klickitat EMS.
Legislative District: 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 49
Congressional District: 3
Chris Ross
2nd DistrictChris Ross serves as the president of IAFF Local 2903, Lacey and was elected to the WSCFF Board in 2022. He represents the WSCFF 2nd District, which includes 13 IAFF local affiliates and more than 500 members.
Locals: 315 Central Grays Harbor, 468 Olympia, 1862 Montesano, 2109 Ocean Shores, 2409 Tumwater, 2776 Raymond, 2903 Lacey, 3628 SE Thurston RFA, 3689 South Beach, 3825 Thurston County, 3999 Pacific 1, 4075 Grays Harbor, 4258 Grays Harbor 2.
Legislative Districts: 2, 19, 22, 24, 35.
Congressional Districts: 3, 6, 10.
Bryan Copeland
3rd District3rd District
Bryan Copeland began his professional fire service career with the Hoquiam Fire Department in 2004, also serving as Local 315’s Secretary. In 2008, he was hired by the Lakewood Fire Department, now West Pierce Fire and Rescue. He has served on the Executive Board of Local 1488, West Pierces since 2010. In 2018 he was elected, and currently serves as President of Local 1488. Copeland was elected WSCFF 3rd District Representative in 2024.
Locals: 726 Pierce County, 1488 West Pierce, 2394 Mason County, 3152 Key Peninsula, 3390 Gig Harbor, 3520 East Pierce, 3829 Dupont, 3876 North Mason, 4440 McNeil Island, F-283 JBLM.
Legislative Districts: 2, 25, 26, 28, 29, 31, 35
Congressional Districts: 6, 8, 10
Reed Astley
4th DistrictReed Astley works for Valley Regional Fire Authority. He is a member of IAFF Local 1352. In 2021, he was elected WSCFF District Representative. He represents 1,149 fire fighters and EMS personnel in 12 IAFF Local Affiliates.
Locals: 1352 Valley Regional Fire Authority, 1461 Burien, 1747 Kent, 1758 Ellensburg, 2024 South King, 2595 King County Medic One, 3186 Mountain View Fire & Rescue, 3931 Enumclaw, 4189 Vashon, 4880 Upper Kittitas M-1, I-66 Boeing Firefighters, I-98 Tri-Med EMTs.
Legislative Districts: 5, 11, 13, 31, 33, 34, 47.
Congressional Districts: 7, 8, 9.
Tom Fields
5th DistrictTom Fields, Local 1604, Bellevue was elected to the WSCFF Board in 2022 representing more than 1,000 members in nine IAFF local affiliates that make up WSCFF District 5.
Locals: 864 Renton, 1257 Port of Seattle, 1604 Bellevue, 1762 Mercer Island, 2545 Kirkland, 2829 Redmond, 2878 Eastside Fire & Rescue, 2898 Seattle Chiefs, 3740 Skyway Fire Fighters.
Legislative Districts: 1, 5, 11, 12, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 41, 43, 45, 46, 47, 48
Congressional Districts: 1, 8, 9
Tim Hoover
6th DistrictTim Hoover joined the fire service in 1995 and works as a fire fighter and paramedic for South County Fire. He has long been involved in union activities and has held a number of elected positions with Local 1828 South County Union Firefighters. He was first elected to the WSCFF Board in 2012. He represents more than 1,000 members in eight IAFF local affiliates that make up the WSCFF 6th District. Hoover serves on the WSCFF Public Relations Committee and is a District Field Service Representative (DSFR) for the IAFF 7th District. He has been appointed by the Washington State Secretary of Health as the WSCFF Representative on the Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Systems Steering Committee.
Locals: 46, Everett, 1760 Shoreline, 1828 South County Union Firefighters, 2099 Bothell, 2597 Snohomish County Airport, 2694 Snohomish County 4, 2781 Snohomish County Firefighters, 3482 Mukilteo.
Legislative Districts: 1, 21, 32, 38, 39, 44
Congressional Districts: 1, 2, 7
Craig Becker
7th DistrictCraig Becker serves as president of IAFF Local 2819, Kitsap County and was elected by the members to the WSCFF Board in 2022. He represents the 11 IAFF local affiliates and 700 members that make up WSCFF District 7.
Locals: 437 Bremerton, 656 Port Angeles, 2032 East Jefferson, 2819 Kitsap County, 2876 South Kitsap District 7, 2933 Clallam County, 3811 Jefferson 3, 3817 South Kitsap Fire Chiefs, 4034 Bainbridge Island, 5177 Clallam County 2, F-282 Puget Sound Federal Fire Fighters.
Legislative Districts: 10, 23, 24, 26, 35
Congressional Districts: 2, 6
Jeff Wainwright
9th DistrictJeff Wainwright began his fire service career in 1991 and is currently a Shift Captain with Spokane County Fire District #8 serving South Spokane County. Wainwright was Charter President of the Spokane County District #8 Local 3711, a position he held for 17 years. Elected to the WSCFF Board in 2012, Wainwright represents the 9th District, comprised of 767 IAFF members in 14 local affiliates. He serves on the Public Relations Committee and is Chair of the Wildland Fire and Mobilization Committee.
Locals: 29 Spokane, 453 Wenatchee, 876 Spokane Valley, 1258 Moses Lake, 1919 Cheney, 2916 Spokane 9 & 10, 3701 Spokane Valley Battalion Chiefs, 3711 Spokane 8, 4333 Stevens 1, 4418 Grant 3, 4816 Chelan County 7, 5085 Okanogan 6, 5134 Cascade EMS, F-304 USBR (Coulee Dam).
Legislative Districts: 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13
Congressional Districts: 4, 5, 8
Open
10th District10th District
The WSCFF 10th District Representative position is currently vacant. President Dennis Lawson and Secretary-Treasurer Greg Markley are working with 10th District members to fill this position. If you need assistance in the interim, you may reach President Lawson and Secretary-Treasurer Markley here.
Locals: 404 Walla Walla, 469 Yakima, 1052 Richland, 1296 Kennewick & Benton 1, 1433 Pasco, 1892 Pullman, 2299 Clarkston, 2328 Toppenish, 3542 Sunnyside, 4203 College Place, 4514 Walla Walla County 4, 4965 Tri-County Fire Fighters, 5033 Columbia County, I-24 Hanford.
Legislative Districts: 8, 9, 14, 15, 16
Congressional Districts: 4, 5
Casey Yeager
Federal & Industrial Board LiaisonCasey Yeager, of LI-66 Boeing Firefighters, began as volunteer fire fighter in Grays Harbor in 2001 and was hired as a career fire fighter in 2013. In 2016, he joined Boeing and has since served in local leadership, becoming President of LI-66 in 2019. In 2024, Yeager was selected as the WSCFF Federal and Industrial Board Liaison, a position created to represent the unique needs of Federal and Industrial locals and to create a better understanding of what the WSCFF can do for them. He is a graduate of the IAFF 7th District Executive Leadership Series.
Trustees
John Gallup
TrusteeElected to the Board of Trustees in 2003, John Gallup, Local 1747, works for the City of SeaTac Fire Department and has served as President and Vice President of the SeaTac City Fire Fighters.
Judson McCauley
TrusteeJudson McCauley, Local 4378 Vancouver Chiefs, was elected WSCFF Trustee in 2022. Prior to his promotion and move to 4378, he was a member of Local 452, Vancouver, and served on the executive board for sixteen years, serving as Shop Steward, Political Action Director, and President. In 2017, McCauley was elected to and continues to serve on the IAFF MERP Board.
Tom Reich
TrusteeTom Reich Local 1296 Kennewick, retired was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2002.
Legislative Liaisons
AJ Johnson
Legislative LiaisonAJ Johnson of Local 1828 South County Union Fire Fighters, began his professional fire fighting career with the Stanwood Fire Department in 2007. In 2014, he was hired by Snohomish County Fire District 1. Johnson has served in local leadership and is a graduate of the IAFF Political Training Academy. In 2018, he was appointed by Governor Jay Inslee to the Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters (LEOFF) Plan 2 Retirement Board. He was initially hired as a WSCFF Legislative Intern and became a Legislative Lobbyist in 2018.
Bud Sizemore
Legislative LiaisonBud Sizemore of Local 1747 Kent worked for 25 years as fire fighter/EMT for Kent Regional Fire Authority, retiring in 2018. He served as WSCFF Legislative Liaison from 2003-2012, returning to the position in 2018. He was a lobbyist for several years for the Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs (WACOPS) and served on the Covington City Council. In 2014, Sizemore was appointed to the Washington State Gambling Commission by Governor Jay Inslee and has served as Chair since 2016.
Staff
Helen Kramer
Executive AssistantDebbie Guillot
Admin Assistant, LegislativeLaura Holder
Admin Assistant, Member ServicesTherese Murphy
Admin Assistant, Communications