Grady Valencis

Background

Grady is a Deputy Director of Health & Safety for the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), working out of the headquarters in Washington, DC. He has been in this position since 2019. Before assuming his current role, he spent 26 years at the Prince George’s County, MD Fire-EMS Department, retiring as a Battalion Chief. During his tenure with the department, Grady served on the IAFF Local 1619 Executive Board, was the Peer Support Team coordinator, and was a Fire Ground Survival instructor. The thing Grady enjoys the most about teaching fire fighters is the “A-ha” moments, when they realize what they are learning, and what they can pass on to others. He is an ardent proponent of fire fighter wellness, and takes pride in working to develop and support the many initiatives the IAFF has available directed at supporting the health and betterment of members. One of the things Grady enjoys most about his role supporting the new Fit to Thrive (F2T) program is working with the cadre of instructors. They are a knowledgeable, passionate, and driven group, who are committed to helping fire fighters live longer, healthier lives on and off the job.

Activity Habits

Outside of work, Grady is married to an Infectious Disease Physician Assistant, and has two children, and one granddaughter. He enjoys traveling with his family and spending as much time at the beach as possible. His motivation to be active stems from understanding the health benefits associated with regular physical activity and exercise. Grady enjoys walking, and walks over 5 miles each day, often through the many monuments located in The National Mall. Although he sticks to his walking practice consistently, the traffic he experiences commuting to work, and the sedentary nature of the office environment make it challenging for Grady to walk as much as he would like each day. Despite these challenges, he finds opportunities to institute walking throughout his day, such as conducting walking meetings on his mobile phone.

Perspectives on F2T and fire fighter wellness and fitness

In Grady’s opinion, the F2T program is unique because it targets the individual, focusing on each person’s unique needs and goals, while also providing many resources for wellness champions to assist with program implementation in their station/department, regardless of the size of their department and/or budget for wellness. In the F2T program, the IAFF has expanded its suite of resources, emphasizing implementation, inclusivity, behavioral change, and accessibility. The new virtual courses are an example of these objectives in action, as they are able to reach members throughout the United States and Canada, in departments who might not have had the budget for in-person offerings. For Grady, these changes add tremendous value for fire fighters and departments, not to mention that the program is designed by fire fighters, for fire fighters.

The two words Grady would use to describe the value of the F2T program is supportive community. He would emphasize that all fire fighters and departments should see the value in a healthy workforce, and not use wellness and fitness as a punitive tool. Grady would advise fire fighters thinking about investing in their wellness and fitness to start small, and remind themselves that making changes takes time. It’s all connected – sleep, nutrition, breathing (mindfulness), movement, and community (relationships).