Senior Management Team

Matthew Vinci has spent 28 years in the fire service and is excited to bring a strong, diverse depth of experience to Vashon Island Fire and Rescue. Matthew previously served in two senior leadership roles within the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) headquarters in Washington, DC for over eight years, as both the Chief of Staff and the Director of Education, Training and Human Relations. Prior to his tenure at the IAFF, he served on the Executive Board of the Professional Fire Fighters of Vermont for 15 years, with seven years as the president.

During that time, he also served a 20-year career in operations as a captain/EMT with the City of South Burlington, Vermont, Fire Department.  While in Vermont, Matthew was appointed by two Governors to serve on the Governor’s Homeland Security Advisory Council for eight years, holding the position of Vice Chair. He also held the position of Chair for Congressman Peter Welch’s Labor Advisory Board, an additional experience that speaks to his passion of supporting and building collaborative labor-management relationships. For the past seven years, Matthew has served on the Commission on Professional Credentialing (CPC) under the Center for Public Safety Excellence. He was elected by his peers as the Vice Chair of the Commission, a position he has held for three years. 

Matthew brings a strong background in fire service education, training, and human relations through his years of work with fire departments of all sizes across the United States and Canada. He has been proudly advocating for the health and wellness of firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics for over 25 years at the local, state, and national levels. Matthew is a credentialed Chief Training Officer through the CPC, holds an Associate’s degree in Fire Science from New Hampshire Technical College, and is currently finishing his Bachelor’s degree in Fire Science through Purdue University Global.