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Norita awarded medal for Fire Service Leadership
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Posted on Dec 14 2018
Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services Commissioner Clyde Norita shows the medal honoring his leadership skills during the annual Western Pacific Fire Chiefs conference last Wednesday at the Fiesta Resort & SpaSaipan. (Kimberly Bautista)
Clyde Norita, the CNMI Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services commissioner for three years and counting, was recognized and presented with a Fire Service Leadership medal for his leadership throughout the years as CNMI fire chief.
Norita was presented with the medal at the annual Western Pacific Fire Chiefs conference held last Wednesday at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan.
Norita was not expecting the accolade and was caught by surprise. “I did not know about it…I was surprised and blindsided…but humbled… I didn’t know it was going to happen,” he said.
Norita credits his leadership skills to three groups who have helped him over the years: the fire chiefs in the Pacific, the Torres administration, and his team at DFEMS.
“I owe this to Pacific Islands chiefs for guiding me. …I also owe this to our governor and our lieutenant governor who have supported DFEMS. …Without their support, all these things would not really happen. They might have chosen me but, without their support, it’s not going to happen…and, lastly, my guys. I could be the best fire chief in the world but if my guys don’t get behind me and support the vision of the leadership, it’s not going to happen,” he said.
Norita has been DFEMS commissioner for three years now; he started back in 2015.
The Western Pacific group of fire chiefs includes fire chiefs from California, Alaska, Montana, Utah, Idaho, Arizona, Nevada, all the western states, Hawaii, and the Pacific Islands.
