Forsyth County Fire Chief Danny D. Bowman was recently honored by Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal with a 2013 Governor's Public Safety Award. Bowman, one of seven “contribution to profession” award recipients statewide, was recognized for his 45-year career in fire services, the last 10 of which have been spent as chief in Forsyth. During that time, Bowman has overseen the substantial growth of the local department, working to keep pace with the county’s rapid development. Bowman has had extensive involvement in local, regional, state and national fire service and community organizations, including: * governor’s appointee to the Georgia Board of Public Safety * past president and past parliamentarian of the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs * past president of the Metropolitan Atlanta Area Fire Chiefs Association * member of the Association County Commissioners Georgia Public Safety and the Courts Committee * EMS Advisory Council Member for the Georgia EMS Region 2 Council * Forsyth County representative on the Lake Lanier Water Safety Task Force * graduate and past board member of Leadership Forsyth * past board member for Youth Leadership Forsyth * U.S. military veteran * career member of Georgia State Firefighters’ Association * served on the Thompson Group, a Washington, D.C., advisory panel for the Fair Labor and Standards Act As Forsyth’s fire chief, Bowman has worked to update the entire front-line fleet of fire apparatus, replace seven fire stations and build a new headquarters. He also oversaw the county’s ISO process in 2009, in which it improved from a 6/9 to a 5. Additional accomplishments under his leadership include: the drafting of the current county fire prevention code; installing 17 outdoor severe weather sirens; and creating Aerial’s House, an annual toy collection for local children in need.