PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. – U.S. Army Garrison Picatinny Arsenal said ‘goodbye’ to friend, mentor, and distinguished leader, during a retirement ceremony at the installation’s fire station on Oct. 17.
Christopher Foster, Director of the garrison’s Directorate of Emergency Services (DES), and former installation fire chief, retired after 29 years of service and experience working at multiple installations in emergency services.
In true fireman-like fashion, where uncertainty fills each moment, the ceremony was briefly interrupted by two emergency response calls, prompting responders to spring into action.
Eventually, when the chaos minimalized, Foster and family were met with farewell gifts and messages, along with recalling memories from years past.
Foster, who was responsible for the overall management of the Picatinny Arsenal Fire Department (PAFD), completed a doctorate in Emergency Management in 2023, thus spawning the name “Doc” among his peers.
There is a usually good-natured rivalry between police officers and firefighters, but when it comes to converging on an emergency, the red and blue are on the same team.
Robert Frutchey, Chief of Police at Aberdeen Providing Ground, Maryland, and former Picatinny Arsenal Police Chief, spoke about his ties to Foster.
“There’s usually a misconception that cops and firemen don’t like each other,” Frutchey said. “Not when it comes to this guy (Foster). As Chiefs we became friends, and that friendship extended away from work as we would go to Army football games at West Point. Our wives would become friends, and I knew that I could count on him, and he knew that he could count on me, if we ever needed that support.”
As Picatinny Arsenal fire chief, Foster was tasked with mentoring, coaching, and supervising other officers and firefighters within the department. He is also responsible for recruiting, training, and equipping the firefighters to ensure the community receives the best customer service possible.
“To my DES Family, my heart is and will always be with you,” Foster said in his farewell address. “The courage, dedication, and resilience you demonstrate day in, and day out has been nothing short of inspiring. Your work goes well beyond the job because it truly is a calling. I am proud to have stood beside you. You are what keeps this community safe, and I will forever be grateful for the time spent learning from and working with such dedicated individuals. Over the years, we have faced challenges, celebrated successes, and learned from each other during both. Through it all, I have seen firsthand the power of teamwork, the importance of compassion, and the strength of a shared mission. You are all remarkable people in what you do. I have no doubt that you will continue to achieve great things.”
Under Foster’s watch, the PAFD was recognized as “Small Fire Department of the Year” by U.S. Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM) Directorate-Sustainment (ID-Sustainment). Along with the departmental award, two of Foster’s crewmembers were individually recognized. Firefighter James Brees was selected as Civilian Firefighter of the Year, and Capt. Nolan Rampulla was selected for Civilian Fire Officer of the Year within ID-Sustainment.
Foster began his career in the United States Air Force, where he served as a firefighter and met his wife, Jeanne. The couple has been married for 29 years and have two children and one grandchild. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Fire & Emergency Management from Kaplan University (now Purdue Global), and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California.
Along with his retirement certificate, Foster was also awarded the Meritorious Civilian Service Medal for his exception service while working at Picatinny from 2020 to 2024.
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