Mark Light,
MPA, CAE
President and CEO
Executive and Organizational Leadership, Association Management, Facilitation
Mark W. Light is the President and CEO of Light Leadership Group. After 43 years in multiple leadership roles in public safety, he retired following 12 years as the chief executive officer and executive director of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and six years as the Deputy Executive Director. The IAFC, a non-profit organization located in Fairfax, Virginia, represents 12,000 fire chiefs, chief officers, and fire service leaders. Mark was responsible for the overall day to day management and leadership of the organization in conjunction with an 18-member board of directors. At the time of his service, the IAFC had an operating budget of approximately $21 million and a staff of 76 people. He was also as the CEO of the IAFC’s for-profit consulting firm for five years.
Prior to the IAFC, Mark was the Fire Chief in Henrico County, Virginia, and a Deputy Chief in Roanoke County, Virginia. He served as a consultant for several consulting and assessment firms throughout his career and currently serves as the Treasurer on the Board of the Crestmont Homeowner’s Association.
Mark holds a Master of Public Administration from Virginia Tech. He is a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy, completed a fire service Fellowship at Harvard University at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, and the Executive Leaders Program at the Center for Homeland Defense and Security at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey California. Mark has been designated as a Certified Association Executive (CAE) by the American Society of Association Executives.