Bob Palestrant has over 40 years of experience in public service serving as a registered nurse, firefighter/paramedic, emergency manager, and in the discipline of homeland security. He is a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) through the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), a credentialed Chief Fire Officer (CFO) through the Center of Public Safety Excellence, and earned his master's degree in Homeland Security graduating cum laude from American Military University. He has multiple Incident Command System (ICS) instructor certifications, is an Office for Bombing Prevention (OBP) Bomb Making Materials Awareness Program (BMAP) Administrator/Trainer, a State of Florida Fire Service Instructor III and in 2021, was selected as the Government Technology & Services Coalition-Homeland Security Today's State Homeland Security Person of the Year. After promoting through the ranks, he retired from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) in 2012.
