Fire Chief

Jim Usry

Jim Usry was appointed to the post of Fire Chief by the Pattonville Fire Protection District Board of Directors effective January 1, 2021.  As District Fire Chief, Chief Usry is charged with the overall management of all aspects of the Pattonville Fire Protection District.

Fire Chief Jim Usry began his career in the Fire & EMS service in April of 1988 and became an employee of the Pattonville Fire Protection District on July 18, 1990.  Prior to joining the Pattonville Fire Protection District, Chief Usry served with the St. Charles Fire Protection District.  During his tenure with Pattonville, Chief Usry has served in the ranks of Firefighter-Paramedic, Secondary Engineer, Acting Captain, Captain-Training Officer, Battalion Chief, Assistant Chief / Medical Officer, and Fire Chief.  Chief Usry is trained as a Hazardous Materials Incident Commander, Fire Service Instructor and Officer, Fire Investigator, Incident Safety Officer, and is an Instructor with the Pattonville Fire Protection District Command Training Center.  Regionally, Chief Usry is a member of the St. Louis County Overhead Response Team, a Rescue Technician, Task Force Leader and Safety Officer with the St. Louis County Heavy Rescue Task Force, a Hazardous Materials Technician and Duty Officer with the St. Louis County Hazardous Materials Response Team, a member of the Critical Incident Stress Management team, sits on the St. Louis County Fire Ground Safety Initiative Committee, and is the former Chief Instructor of the St. Louis County Fire Academy.  Chief Usry is also a member of the Professional Fire Fighters of Eastern Missouri – IAFF Local 2665, and serves on the IAFF Local 2665 Honor Guard.

Chief Usry is a lifelong resident of the community protected by the Pattonville Fire Protection District.  He is married and enjoys spending as much time as possible with his wife, nine children and one grandchild.  Chief Usry is committed to staying active in the community during his time away from work as well, serving as a Scout Leader, an Executive Board Member of the Rose Acres Elementary School PTO & School Improvement Team, a member of the Economic Development Commission for the City of Maryland Heights, and is a coach of various little league sports teams for his children.

Assistant chief / medical officer

Kevin stuhlman

Kevin Stuhlman was appointed to the post of Assistant Chief / Medical Officer by the Pattonville Fire Protection District Board of Directors effective January 1, 2021.  Chief Stuhlman is charged with the management of the District’s emergency medical services and special operations programs, as well as personnel and daily district operations.

Deputy Chief of Operations and Training

Corey Irelan

Corey Irelan was appointed to the post of Deputy Chief of Operations & Training by the Pattonville Fire Protection District Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2016. As the Chief Training Officer of the Pattonville Fire Protection District, Deputy Chief Irelan is responsible for all aspects related to the initial and ongoing training requirements of all uniformed Pattonville employees.

Deputy Chief Corey Irelan began his career in the Fire & EMS service as a Volunteer Firefighter with the Goldman Fire District in 1989.  Chief Irelan attained licensure as an Emergency Medical Technician in 1992 and as a Paramedic in 1994.  Prior to becoming an employee at Pattonville Fire Protection District on March 1, 1999, Chief Irelan served with the Valle Ambulance District (1992-1996), Webster Groves Fire Department (1996-1997), and St. Charles City Fire Department (1997-1999).  During his tenure with Pattonville, Chief Irelan has served in the ranks of Firefighter-Paramedic, Secondary Engineer, Acting Captain, Captain, Acting Battalion Chief, Battalion Chief and now Deputy Chief of Training and Operations.  Chief Irelan has also served his fellow Brothers and Sisters in the Fire Service as the Acting Union Shop Steward of the Pattonville Shop of the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 2665.  Regionally, Chief Irelan is a sitting member on the St. Louis County Fire Ground Safety Initiative Committee and the Central County Fire Alarm Users Group.  As a proud member of the Pattonville Family, Chief Irelan states that he feels very luck to work with such a committed workforce and supportive Board of Directors.

Chief Irelan is married to his high school sweetheart who also serves the public as a grade school teacher in their hometown.  Together, they are very proud of their two children that keep them very busy as a family.

Deputy Chief / Fire Marshal

Laurie Licavoli

Laurie Licavoli was appointed to the position of Deputy Chief – Fire Marshal by the Pattonville Fire Protection District Board of Directors on July 5th, 2016.  Chief Licavoli’s responsibilities include managing Pattonville Fire Protection District’s fire prevention, inspection, code-enforcement and pre-incident planning programs.

Deputy Chief Laurie Licavoli began her career in the Fire & EMS service as an Emergency Medical Technician with the City of St. Louis Fire Department EMS in 1990.  After attaining licensure as a Paramedic, Chief Licavoli served with the University City Fire Department from 1994 until 2001.  Chief Licavoli became an employee of the Pattonville Fire Protection District in August 2001, and has served in the ranks of Firefighter-Paramedic, Engineer, Acting Captain, Fire Inspector, and Deputy Chief - Fire Marshal Transitional Officer prior to her promotion to Deputy Chief - Fire Marshal. 

Chief Licavoli is certified as a Fire Inspector by the State of Missouri and the International Code Council, and has attended the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland, completing specialty training in the areas of technical fire prevention, fire investigation, and fire prevention management.  Chief Licavoli is a member of the Metropolitan Fire Marshals Association, the International Association of Arson Investigators, and the International Association of Fire Fighters – IAFF Local 2665.  Chief Licavoli states that her role as Deputy Chief – Fire Marshal allows her to serve in the areas of the Fire Service of which she is the most passionate.

Chief Licavoli is the proud mother of two daughters.  In her time away from Pattonville, she enjoys staying busy with her daughters’ dance, gymnastics and pageant schedules. 

Battalion Chief

Steve Rogger

Steve Rogger was appointed to the post of Battalion Chief by the Pattonville Fire Protection District Board of Directors in December 2015.  As a Battalion Chief, Chief Rogger is in charge of one of the District’s three platoons of emergency personnel and serves as the coordinator and commander of all activities and incident responses that occur while that given platoon of employees is on duty. He also oversees the management and maintenance of the District’s fleet of emergency apparatus.

Battalion Chief Steve Rogger began his career in the Fire & EMS service in 1996 and became an employee of the Pattonville Fire Protection District in 2002.  Prior to joining the Pattonville Fire Protection District, Chief Rogger served with the St. Louis City Fire Department and the University City Fire Department.  During his tenure with Pattonville, Chief Rogger has served in the ranks of Firefighter-Paramedic, Secondary Engineer, Acting Captain, Captain and Battalion Chief.  Regionally, Chief Rogger is a Rescue Technician with the St. Louis County Heavy Rescue Task Force.

Chief Rogger has earned an Associate Degree in Fire Science Technology and is trained as a Fire Service Instructor and Officer, Incident Safety Officer and Hazardous Materials Incident Commander.

Battalion Chief

Bob Rauss

Bob Rauss was appointed to the rank of Battalion Chief by the Pattonville Fire Protection District Board of Directors in February 2019.  As a Battalion Chief, Chief Rauss is in charge of one of the District’s three platoons of emergency personnel, and serves as the coordinator and commander of all activities and incident responses that occur while that given platoon of employees is on duty.  He also oversees the management and maintenance of the District’s fire station buildings and grounds.

Battalion Chief Bob Rauss began his career in the Fire & EMS service in 1991 as an Emergency Medical Technician with the City of St. Louis Fire Department EMS Division.  He became a Paramedic in 1994 and served as a Paramedic Crew Chief from 1996-1999.  Battalion Chief Rauss then became a Paramedic-Firefighter with the University City Fire Department in 1999 where he served until becoming an employee of the Pattonville Fire Protection District in 2003.  

During his tenure with Pattonville, Battalion Chief Rauss has served in the ranks of Paramedic-Firefighter, Secondary Engineer, Acting Captain, Captain, Acting Battalion Chief and Battalion Chief.  Chief Rauss is a proud member of the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 2665.  As an employee of Pattonville, he has worked as a member of the district’s computer and uniform committees, served as a secondary shift labor representative and as a member of the labor/management planning committee.  Chief Rauss is a certified Fire Service Instructor and Live Fire Instructor, certified Fire Officer and Incident Safety Officer, and maintains Blue Card Incident Command and HazMat Incident Command certifications.  He is a former member of the Missouri Emergency Medical Services Association (MEMSA) and past Missouri State Paramedic Evaluator.  Chief Rauss states that his favorite aspect of the Pattonville Fire Protection District is the willingness that exists among all employees to do Whatever It Takes to serve our community.

Battalion Chief Rauss is married to his high school sweetheart of 25 years and counting.  His wife works as an elementary school teacher for a school district in North St. Louis County.  Chief Rauss is the proud father of two children: his daughter is a 2019 college graduate certified in Culinary, Baking and Pastry Arts and his son is currently a high school senior with aspirations to enter the hotel, hospitality and travel industry after graduation.  In his time away from work, Chief Rauss enjoys traveling with his family to island destinations.

Battalion Chief

Rodney Bland

Rodney Bland was appointed to the rank of Battalion Chief by the Pattonville Fire Protection District Board of Directors effective January 1, 2021. As a Battalion Chief, Chief Bland is in charge of one of the District’s three platoons of emergency personnel, and serves as the coordinator and commander of all activities and incident responses that occur while that given platoon of employees is on duty.  He also oversees the management and maintenance of the District’s cache of portable tools and lifesaving equipment.

Community Affairs Officer

Mark Woolbright

Mark Woolbright serves the Pattonville Fire Protection District as the Community Affairs Officer, having been appointed to the post in August 2008.  He also holds the rank of Captain. 

Captain Woolbright has been an employee of the Pattonville Fire Protection District since 1990, and has previously served in the ranks of Firefighter, Secondary Engineer, Acting Captain and Fire Company Captain.  Captain Woolbright has earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Service Agency Management, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Recreation Administration, and an Associate of Arts Degree in Fire Science Technology.

Captain Woolbright is a very proud member of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) – Local 2665.  He is currently an Executive Board Member and District Vice President of the International Association of Fire Fighters at the organization’s highest level.  In his role as IAFF District Vice President, Captain Woolbright serves his fellow Brothers and Sisters in the Fire Service as a resource to IAFF Locals in the states of Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas.  Captain Woolbright previously served as an Executive Board Member of the Professional Fire Fighters of Eastern Missouri – Local 2665, as an Executive Board Member of the Missouri State Council of Fire Fighters, and as a former Union Shop Steward for the Pattonville Shop of the Professional Fire Fighters of Eastern Missouri - IAFF Local 2665.