Plano, Texas Fire Chief Bill Peterson has accepted a White House Presidential appointment as the Director of Region VI of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) beginning Monday, January 30, 2006. Chief Peterson is credited with developing a progressive fire service organization in Plano, delivering a wide range of fire protection and emergency medical services to the community since 1982. He has also served as the City of Plano's Emergency Management Coordinator.

Chief Peterson implemented operational, organizational and administrative changes within the Plano Fire Department in his tenure as Fire Chief, including the establishment of the paramedic level EMS system and an affirmative action program. He has also improved the public relations of the department and developed the national and international reputation of the department to deliver a wide range of high quality fire and emergency medical services.

Prior to coming to Plano, Chief Peterson served the City of Waukegan, Illinois, as Fire Chief from 1979 to 1982. He served the Village of Bolingbrook, Illinois, as Fire Marshal from 1974 to 1979. He was a civil engineer prior to joining the fire service. Chief Peterson completed the Harvard Law School program on Negotiation and Negotiating Labor Agreements, in 2005, as well as the John F Kennedy School of Government Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government (1985 FEMA Fire Service Fellowship). He also completed numerous courses through the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland..

Chief Peterson is a lecturer, an Instructor in Fire Science, an Author, a Management Consultant, a Field Survey Analyst, and a member of national and international planning and standards committees.
He currently serves as the Immediate Past International President of the Institution of Fire Engineers, based in Morton-in-Marsh, England, after having served in various capacities for the past ten (10) years. Chief Peterson received his certification as a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) from the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) in March 2005.