Perry McClendon has spent his entire adult life as a firefighter.
“In 2005, I began volunteering right out of high school in Houston at the Alief Volunteer Community Fire Department and have really taken a passion for emergency services work,” he said. “I am currently employed with the Houston Fire Department. I have been with HFD for 15 years and have held the rank of captain for 2.5 years.”
McClendon already had associate degrees in homeland security and emergency management, and but he wanted more.
“A friend of mine told me that TJC has a bachelor’s program in emergency management, and I thought it would be a great fit for me, especially since I live in Katy and the TJC program is 100 percent online,” he said. “Continuing my studies at TJC will allow me to broaden my scope of emergency management to be a better member of the Houston Fire Department. This will also allow me to have doors opened in the future for various work in the emergency management field.”
It will also help him better provide for his growing family.
“My educational endeavors were put on a pause in 2011 when I got married, and then again in 2012 and 2015 when my two children were born,” he said. “I have stayed ahead of the game as much as possible by promoting through the ranks in the Houston Fire Department as well as advancing my Texas Commission on Fire Protection Fire, Officers and Instructor certifications. This has allowed me to remain up to date on the world of emergency management in the fire service field. As a captain, my role has increased to a more diligent decision-making process, and I’ve learned more about managing the emergency and incidents that I have taken a keen interest in learning more.”
McClendon’s 4.0 grade-point average helped him earn a TJC scholarship to defray his educational costs and keep his family on track for his kids’ future educations.
“My wife went back to school a few years ago and received her bachelor’s in nursing and started her master’s but had to stop due to financial issues,” he said. “There isn’t a tuition exemption for nursing like there is for firefighters. I feel like this is the time for me to get this done. My kids are in fourth and sixth grades, and I would like to have my educational goals done before they are in high school, so that we can continue to plan for their college successes.”
Through the TJC program, McClendon hopes to continue upward in his career.
“My goals are to continue to promote through the ranks of the Houston Fire Department and hopefully someday achieve the rank of district chief. The district chief provides station-level command over a designated area, and I like the challenge it brings when managing these types of incidents, the stations and crews that work at those designated stations. This position provides the opportunity to get more involved in the Incident Command structure of emergency incidents. I like the relationships strengthened between the fire service, law enforcement and other agencies. I know the only way to achieve success in any type of emergency is working together, collaborating and having an open mindset. I think those are qualities I have and that I can bring to the table if given the opportunity.”
About the program
TJC’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Emergency Management program provides opportunities for students to advance their professional qualifications in the field of crisis and disaster response.
The program prepares students already holding associate degrees in related programs to assume advanced responsibilities in leadership and management roles. Students will learn to prepare for direct disaster response or crisis management activities, oversee disaster preparedness and establish emergency plans and procedures for natural disasters, wartime or technological disasters. In an all-online format, students will also learn in-demand skills including communication, decision-making, organization and planning, critical thinking and risk assessment.
For more information, go to TJC.edu/EMBAS.