Our Team
At the HEN Foundation, our leadership team brings decades of experience, passion, and commitment to serving the fire service community. Together, they guide our mission to provide life-saving equipment, firefighter education, and support for families of those who dedicate their lives to protecting others.
RAY MCCORMACK
Executive Director
Retired FDNY Lieutenant | 39-Year Veteran
Ray McCormack brings a lifetime of fire service experience and leadership to the HEN Foundation. He is passionate about advancing the fire service through modern equipment access, research-based education, and renewal care for families of fallen firefighters (LODD).
Ray was the co-creator of Urban Firefighter Magazine and currently serves on the Editorial Board of Fire Engineering and FDIC. He delivered the iconic FDIC 2009 keynote, “True Values of a Firefighter.”
As the creator of the Force nozzle line for HEN Technologies, Ray continues to shape modern firefighting through innovation and training. He also served as a technical panel member for two UL-FSRI structural fire attack studies, written extensively on fire operations, and will soon publish his first book True Values of a Firefighter.
FRANK LEEB
Educational Program Director
Managing Director, FRCE | Deputy Assistant Chief, FDNY (Ret.) | Author & Instructor
Frank Leeb is the Managing Director of the First Responder Center for Excellence (FRCE) and a retired Deputy Assistant Chief with the Fire Department of New York (FDNY), where he served more than 31 years before retiring in June 2024. During his FDNY career, he held several senior leadership roles, including Chief of the Fire Academy, Chief of Training, and Chief of Safety. A proud member of the East Farmingdale Fire Department (Long Island, NY) since 1983, Frank continues to serve the fire service community by supporting the HEN Foundation’s mission to advance education and wellness initiatives nationwide.
Frank is an accomplished author, educator, and speaker, known for his contributions to firefighter leadership and safety. He is the author of the best-selling Cornerstones of Leadership – On and Off the Fireground, co-author of 30 Fires You Must Know, and serves as a senior advisor and minority owner of CRACKYL Magazine. His work continues to inspire and equip firefighters and leaders across the country with the knowledge, mindset, and commitment required to serve safely and effectively.
TONYA HOOVER
Renewal Program Director
Retired Deputy Administrator, U.S. Fire Administration (USFA)
Tonya Hoover is a prominent figure in the American fire service, best known for her recent role as the Deputy U.S. Fire Administrator. She retired from this position in the summer of 2024.
Throughout her career, she has held several key leadership positions, including:
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Superintendent of the U.S. National Fire Academy (NFA)
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California State Fire Marshal
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Assistant State Fire Marshal of California
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Fire Marshal/Battalion Chief at Moraga-Orinda Fire District, California
She has also been actively involved in national fire safety organizations, serving on the boards of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA), and Code Correlating Committee Member, International Code Council (ICC).
KATHY EDWARDS
Director of Development
CEO, Fire Life Training & Breaking Barriers | Co-Founder, Fire Wife Life
Kathy Edwards is a nationally recognized nonprofit consultant and fire service leader with more than 30 years of experience in organizational management, training, and strategic growth. As CEO of Fire Life Training and Breaking Barriers, and co-founder of Fire Wife Life, Kathy is dedicated to empowering the fire service community through education, wellness, and connection.
In 2021, she co-founded Fire Wife Life and The Fire Family, with programs designed to strengthen connection, empowerment, and inclusion to fire families nationwide.
Throughout her career, Kathy has worked with leading nonprofit organizations such as the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, American Diabetes Association, Huntington’s Disease Society of America, United Cerebral Palsy, Lambda Legal, Global Health Action, Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation, Girls on the Run, and the National Down Syndrome Congress. Her expertise includes income development, board and staff training, and building sustainable, mission-driven organizations.
Kathy has served on numerous nonprofit boards and community councils, including as President of the Atlanta Fire Department Women’s Auxiliary and as a member of the Superintendent’s School Improvement Council for Georgia’s largest school district.
Our Advisory Panel
The HEN Foundation Advisory Panel is a dedicated group of volunteers who generously share their time, expertise, and passion to advance our mission. Each member has been thoughtfully selected for their commitment to the fire service community and their belief in the power of giving back.
United by a deep respect for the courage and sacrifice of firefighters and first responders, our panel members bring diverse professional experience to help guide the foundation’s growth and impact.
Together, they provide expertise in areas such as grant funding, nonprofit marketing, fire service needs analysis, brand development, social media strategy, fundraising, website optimization, logistics, and data analytics ensuring that every effort of the HEN Foundation is guided by purpose, integrity, and heart.
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Mission
To enable fire departments to improve operations with modern equipment and education, and to support the families of fallen line-of-duty firefighters.
Vision
To empower departments to protect communities more effectively, regardless of budgetary constraints, and to provide renewal to hero families.