Bruce W. McPherson

Life Member Bruce W. McPherson of the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company (OVFC) was inducted into the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighters Association’s Hall of Fame on 8 September 2023.

Bruce joined OVFC in January 1992 and has ably served the fire company, the greater Odenton community, and the Nation ever since.  Bruce was an active responder until 2008 when he switched his focus to administrative duties.  He is certified as a Firefighter II and Fire Officer I and has completed over 1,000 hours of training.  Bruce capably served as an active responder on the ambulance, engine, and ladder truck.

Bruce has served on numerous OVFC committees, many for several years, including Bingo, Awards, Hall Management, Special Programs Fundraising, and Public Fire and Life Safety Education.  Bruce’s main contribution to OVFC’s mission has been in meeting the public relations needs of the company.  He is chairperson of the Public Information and Social Media Committee, which is responsible for managing OVFC’s strategic communications channels to highlight the accomplishments of the company and its members, advertise fundraising events, and promote recruitment.  He produces an informative community newsletter twice a year.  Bruce has received the OVFC President’s Award for outstanding administrative support.

Bruce has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and a master’s degree in systems engineering.  He is semi-retired from a 43-year career as a communications engineer, working on radio systems for numerous federal, state, and local government agencies.  Bruce specialized in the analysis, design, and implementation of public safety radio systems, working for over 50 jurisdictions around the country, including Anne Arundel County.  He has numerous licenses and certifications including Master Certified Electronics Technician, Global Maritime Distress & Safety Systems Operator license, and Extra Class Amateur Radio License.

For the past ten years Bruce has used his electronics expertise to support Anne Arundel County’s Mobile Command and Communications Unit (MCCU-1).  He assisted in the initial installation of the communications equipment and provides ongoing expertise in maintaining the various systems.  He has assisted in providing communications support at many events at which MCCU-1 was deployed.

Bruce combined his fire service experience and communications expertise in delivering a presentation on “Vehicle Repeater Systems in the Incident Command System” at a Fire Department Instructor Conference and participated in a “Radio Communications Interoperability Roundtable” at an International Association of Fire Chiefs National Conference.  He has also co-authored the Motorola “Communications Planning Guide for the Fire Service.”

Bruce was also in the U.S. Army Reserve (Signal Corps), retiring after 28 years as a Lieutenant Colonel.  In 1996, his Reserve unit was deployed in Fort Dix for six months in support of the U.S. operations in Bosnia.  From May 2004 to July 2005, Bruce was deployed to Iraq where he supervised communications and information management for a Civil Affairs Brigade.  Upon retirement from the Reserves, he became active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and was the commander of the Odenton VFW post, which later merged with Glen Burnie Post 160.  Bruce makes sure the military members of the fire company get recognized for their community service as volunteer firefighters.  Each year, VFW Post 160 selects one OVFC member as Firefighter of the Year and another as EMT of the Year and Bruce coordinates the award process.

Bruce also serves as President of the Greater Odenton Improvement Association (GOIA).  He single-handedly runs two annual events which are held in partnership with the OVFC - Odenton Day and the annual Christmas Tree Lighting.  Odenton Day is a community event on the first Saturday of October as a joint event sponsored by the OVFC, GOIA, and the Odenton Heritage Society (OHS).  Bruce contacts local nonprofits and businesses to solicit their participation, collects a fee from the participants, organizes the table assignments at the OVFC hall, and arranges for local talent entertainment. 

The annual Christmas tree lighting at the historic Bank Building (owned by OHS and located at the MARC station) is also a cooperative event among GOIA, OVFC, and OHS.  Bruce takes the lead in putting out announcements, coordinates the use of the MARC station parking lot with the MTA, gets a student group to sing carols, and sets up and distributes free light refreshments.  Bruce pays for the tree with GOIA funds and OHS sets up and decorates the tree.  OVFC arranges for a visit by Santa and Mrs. Claus on an OVFC fire engine.

Bruce is also quite active in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA).  He is a Unit Commissioner, responsible for linking district and other resources to individual troops when they need help. He is a merit badge counselor in archery, radio, and safety.  He helps to set up the communications systems at the National Scout Jamboree and operates the official BSA. Amateur Radio Station K2BSA at the Jamboree.  He trains and tests scouts who desire to attain their FCC Amateur Radio Operators License.

The above testimony clearly demonstrates Bruce McPherson’s commitment to service as an OVFC member, as a community leader, and as a military veteran.  His many accomplishments have brought great credit to himself, the fire company, and the volunteer fire service.