December 8, 2025
Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighters Association
Outstanding Member of the Quarter Award Committee

Nomination for Quarter 4, 2025

Dear Members of the Awards Committee,

I am honored to nominate Michael “Mike Jr.” Malkinski Jr. for AACVFA’s Outstanding Member of the Quarter award. Mike has been a member of our company since 2021, and during that time he has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication, professionalism, and commitment to the community we serve. His contributions during this past quarter in particular, reflect the very best of volunteer fire service in Anne Arundel County.

This quarter, Mike stepped forward as the first non-officer to serve as an Onboarding Mentor for new applicants. In taking on this role, he identified several gaps in our membership onboarding process and took immediate action to correct them. He contacted all new applicants, scheduled interviews, ensured all outstanding paperwork and clearances were completed, and guided every new operational member through the class registration process. He also collaborated with our IT and PIO teams to update recruitment materials and develop a structured outreach campaign.

As a direct result of Mike’s efforts, RBVFC welcomed 13 new members this quarter—11 of whom are Operational. Among those 11, several already hold prior qualifications that Mike is now shepherding through the clearance process, and the remainder have already been registered for or placed into their required training. His leadership in this area has revitalized our new-member pipeline and strengthened our operational depth for the year ahead.
Concurrently with these onboarding responsibilities, Mike has continued to excel in his operational service. For the past several years, he has been one of our highest-volume.

EMS responders, contributing to tens of thousands of dollars in Volunteer EMS Transport Grant funding for our company. This quarter alone, he averaged over 12 hours of EMS staffing per week, and was directly responsible for coordinating scheduling to ensure adequate ambulance coverage, and ensured that every clearing Ambulance Technician and EMT student received appropriate training opportunities.

In addition, Mike advanced his own firefighting qualifications and recently completed all requirements to staff Truck 13. He has averaged over 8 hours of suppression staffing per week, bringing his total operational staffing contribution this quarter to more than 20 hours per week—a remarkable commitment for any volunteer.
Mike has also served with distinction as our Quartermaster, expanding the catalog of available apparel and gear, improving ordering efficiency, and responding to member needs with speed and professionalism. His ability and willingness to take on logistical work has had a meaningful, positive impact on company morale and readiness.

Finally, Mike’s dedication has earned the trust of his peers, and he was recently elected to serve as Recording Secretary for 2026, reflecting the confidence the membership has in his leadership and character.

Mike Jr. exemplifies the values of service, initiative, and community that the AACVFA Outstanding Member of the Quarter award seeks to recognize. His work this past quarter has strengthened our company in measurable, lasting ways, and he continues to be a role model for both new and long-serving members alike.
It is with great respect and enthusiasm that I submit this nomination.

Sincerely,
David Johnson
President
Riviera Beach Volunteer Fire Company