NFPA Names Ross Ashley as Next President and CEO
Ross Ashley will take the helm at NFPA this summer, bringing decades of experience in emergency management, public safety, and federal leadership as the organization continues its focus on growth and innovation.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Apr 28, 2026
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has appointed Ross Ashley as its next president and CEO, the organization announced Tuesday.
Ashley, a former Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) official and most recently senior director of emergency management at KPMG LLP, will assume the role July 1. He succeeds Jim Pauley, who will retire at the end of July after serving as NFPA’s president and CEO since 2014.
NFPA’s Board of Directors unanimously approved Ashley’s appointment, citing his more than 30 years of leadership experience across public safety, emergency management and corporate sectors. Board Chair David R. Paulison said Ashley is positioned to advance the organization’s mission of improving fire, life and electrical safety through standards, research and education.
Ashley previously oversaw emergency management programs supporting state and local governments and managed more than $10 billion annually in preparedness and disaster relief funding during his tenure at FEMA. He also served 20 years in the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserves.
In a statement, Ashley said he plans to build on NFPA’s recent growth and continue efforts to address evolving safety challenges. Pauley, who has been affiliated with NFPA for more than three decades, said the organization has expanded its global reach and digital capabilities during his tenure.
NFPA said the leadership transition will include an overlap period in July to ensure continuity.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco brings a strong and varied journalism background to her role at Occupational Health & Safety, having previously served as a multimedia editor, broadcast journalist, professor and reviewer across major news organizations. As Content Editor, she writes news and feature articles, hosts sponsor and editorial webinars, co-hosts the SafetyPod worker health and safety podcast, and manages the brand’s digital and social media presence. She is committed to informing and engaging the safety community through compelling reporting and conversations that support safer, healthier workplaces.