Time Magazine has named Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) Assistant Chief Karls Paul-Noel as one of the World's Most Influential People in 2010. Chief Paul-Noel was recognized as one of the heroes of the year for his efforts in Haiti after the devastating earthquake in January.
In the magazine, Chief Paul-Noel received a praiseworthy endorsement written by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani attributed the chief with being the highest-ranking Haitian-American firefighter in the nation.
Chief Paul-Noel had been an active member of MDFR's Urban Search and Rescue Team since 1987 and has responded to disasters worldwide, including earthquakes in Turkey and Haiti, the Mozambique Floods, and numerous hurricanes.
The Chief is a highly experienced 26-year veteran, having worked on some of the department's busiest suppression and rescue units. He has served as a recruit instructor and training captain before being promoted. As a chief he has overseen South Operations, Special Operations, Training and Safety, and Technical and Support Services. He currently oversees the more than 2,000 uniformed personnel at MDFR as the Chief of Operations.
Chief Paul-Noel holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Florida International University, a Bachelor of Public Administration degree from Barry University and an Associate degree in Fire Science Technology from Miami Dade College.
For more information on the Time Magazine World's Most Influential People, visit www.time.com.
For more information, please contact MDFR's Media and Public Relations Bureau at 786-331-5200.