Lt. Col. Peden Announces Retirement

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930, mebrady@co.pg.md.us



Lt. Col. Angela M. Peden

A Deputy Chief with the Prince George’s County Fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department has announced her intention to retire. Angela M. Peden, a 21 year member of the Department has stated she will retire effective July 31, 2011. She currently serves as the commander of Administrative Services which oversees the Fiscal Affairs, Logistics, Human Resources and Information Management.

She previously served as the Major in charge of Fire Investigations and led the Department through two serial Arson Investigations; closing both cases with arrests. One was the DC area Arsonist and the other was the Spring Hill Lake Arsonist.

As a Lieutenant Colonel of the Administrative Services Command she has led the Fire/EMS Department through the most challenging economic time in the history of the Department. She is also responsible for the implementation of ambulance transport and fire inspection fees which generate about $12 million per year for the County.

Peden started her career as a firefighter in 1989 and worked at Fire/EMS Station throughout Prince George’s County working her way up the ranks to Captain in 1997. As a Captain she worked in Emergency Operations assisting in Internal Affairs. In 2003, she was promoted to a Battalion Chief and worked in Organizational Development, Human resources and served as the Fire/EMS Departments Equal Opportunity Officer. She was promoted to Major in 2004 and assigned as the commander of Fire Investigations and Prevention.

At a recent command staff retirement luncheon for Peden, Acting Fire Chief Marc S. Bashoor stated, “It is always bittersweet to hear of someone’s retirement especially from someone that has meant so much to the Department. The last several years, Lt. Col. Peden guided this Department through financially difficult times. She has served the citizens and residents, as well as the combined career and volunteer membership of this Department, in an exceptional manner throughout her career. I thank her for her assistance since my return and I offer my sincerest wishes for her in the future.”

As for her future plans, she stated, “I plan on spending time with my daughter before she is deployed overseas later this year and enjoying time off with my grand-daughter.”

Acting Fire Chief Marc S. Bashoor announced his selection to fill the vacancy created by Colonel Peden’s retirement with Benjamin Barksdale. He will join the Fire/EMS Department as a Lieutenant Colonel, Deputy Fire Chief, of one of the largest and busiest combination, volunteer and career, Fire/EMS Departments in the country. He is currently serving as an Assistant Fire Chief with the Arlington County, VA, Fire Department.

Barksdale is a resident of Prince George’s County, 47 years-of-age and a 24-year veteran of the fire service. He comes to the Department having previously served as the Chief Fire Marshal and currently serving as the Assistant Chief of Support Services in Arlington County, VA.

Acting Lt. Col. Jerry LaMoria shares a light-hearted story about Peden when she was his rookie at Hyattsville.

Peden and Acting Fire Chief Bashoor at a recent command staff luncheon held in her honor.