Mobile Fire Chief Earns National Award

MOBILE, Ala. — The City of Mobile Fire and Rescue Department recently announced that Chief Philip Ballard was the recipient of the COVID-19 Pandemic Civilian Service Medal for exemplary service to the nation as a part of the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) during the federal medical response to the pandemic. As part of an NDMS Disaster Medical Assistance Team, Ballard was one of approximately 1,400 NDMS responders presented the medal under the authority of the U.S. Surgeon General. Over the past three years, NDMS conducted more than 1,800 support missions and deployed thousands of medical, logistical, and command and control personnel to help communities across the U.S. and its territories respond to COVID-19. NDMS Director Michael Smith said Ballard and his NDMS colleagues “served as a lifeline to hundreds of hospitals and long-term care facilities by providing temporary relief to staff, adding bed capacity and improving outcomes for COVID-19 patients. This medal is reflective of his selfless commitment to the public health and medical needs of our residents.”