VDFP’s CRR Team Supports Richmond Backpack Drive
Sparky the Fire Dog and the VDFP Community Risk Reduction team greeted families at Radio One’s annual Prep For Success Backpack Drive in Richmond, sharing fire safety tips, resources, and fun giveaways to help students start the school year safely.
VDFP Employee Spotlight: Steven Catlett
Tell me about your role with VDFP and what an average day looks like for you?
I start my day by reviewing my personal inbox and our shared inbox to address any questions pertaining to my tasks. I then grade testing that came in the day before and any remaining outstanding tests...
VDFP’s CRR Team Supports Richmond Backpack Drive continued from page 1
On August 16, the Virginia Department of Fire Programs’ Community Risk Reduction (CRR) section joined community partners at Radio One’s annual Prep For Success Backpack Drive, hosted at Speaking Spirit Ministries in Richmond.
The event, held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., brought together hundreds of families preparing for the upcoming school year.
In addition to free school supplies, community members received resources and giveaways from various organizations, including VDFP. The CRR team distributed a variety of fire safety items such as pens, rulers, stress ball fire trucks, helmets, magnets, and fire safety kits featuring coloring books and stickers. These tools provided both fun and educational opportunities for students and families to learn about fire prevention and safety.
A highlight of the day was Sparky the Fire Dog, who greeted families, posed for photos, and shared fire safety packets with children. Sparky’s presence helped make fire safety both memorable and approachable for students getting ready for the new school year.
By participating in events like the Backpack Drive, VDFP continues its mission of connecting with communities across the Commonwealth, ensuring that fire safety awareness remains a part of everyday life for Virginia families.
VDFP Employee Spotlight: Steven Catlett
continued from page 1
... I then upload the results to Cornerstone and send notifications to all students registered in the class that tested.
Tell me about your career and what led you here to VDFP today?
I started my work life at a pizza buffet while being a volunteer firefighter in my free time. My grandmother was a state employee and retired from the state and always talked about the benefits of it. I wanted to follow in her footsteps and work for the state as well. When I saw that Fire Programs was hiring, I couldn’t imagine a better way to start my career. I am a firefighter in my free time while helping Virginia’s fire service in my current position furthering my career.
What are the most rewarding aspects of your job?
Working with a great team of people and helping our stakeholders advance their careers
How would you define your work ethic?
I ensure tasks are always seen through to completion.
What is your favorite part of working at VDFP?
The friendly work environment and staff and feeling appreciated by supervisors.
If you had to travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
My wife and I want to travel and see many new places. We just got back from Iceland but the place we are most excited to travel would probably be Japan and seeing the natural beauty of the country.
IT Corner – Cybersecurity: Our Shared Responsibility
Greetings VDFP Team,
This month, I’d like to share some important insights on IT security risks affecting the Commonwealth—and our agency.
On August 14, Phil Napier, our Information Security Officer, and I attended the Commonwealth of Virginia Information Security Conference. Commonwealth CIO Bob Osmond opened the event with a striking statistic: since April 2022, the Commonwealth’s network has defended against over 600,000 cyberattacks—including phishing attempts, malware, trojans, and other threats. Thanks to a combination of strong defenses and vigilant users, only a handful of major incidents have breached our systems.
This success is due in no small part to you—our first line of defense. Each of the nearly 70,000 Commonwealth account holders represent a potential entry point for attackers. While VDFP accounts make up only a fraction of that total, every user’s actions matter. Your diligence in spotting suspicious emails, reporting unusual activity, and completing security training helps protect not only our agency but the entire Commonwealth network.
One of the most common vulnerabilities remains weak passwords. While it may seem inconvenient to create a unique, 14-character password every 45 days—and to avoid reusing passwords for 24 cycles—these requirements are among the most effective tools we have against hackers.
Phil and I are not immune; we’ve both fallen for VITA’s “test” phishing emails in the past. But each incident reinforces why we must remain alert. Your attention to these matters makes a real difference, and I thank you for your continued commitment.
As this year’s cybersecurity training approaches, I encourage you to remember the scale of the threats we face—and the critical role you play in stopping them. Together, we are keeping VDFP and the Commonwealth secure.
Robert Steele
VDFP IT Manager | Deputy ISO
Annual Required Information Security Training
The annual required information security training will kick off on Tuesday, September 2 and will run through Tuesday October 21 (a 7 week window).
All team members with a COV Account should receive a notification email (and reminders as appropriate) from do-not-reply@training.knowbe4.com
Anyone with questions regarding training should reach out to the VDFP Information Security Officer, Phil Napier.
The annual COVLC training will be released on September 15 with a completion deadline of the end of November.
See example email below.
DHRM Policy Updates
This message is to inform you that we have updated the following policies: 1.40, Performance Management, 1.60, Standards of Conduct and 4.35, Leave Share. Please forward this information to your staff.
We have detailed the updates in the attached Summary of Changes documents. However, here are the major updates made in each policy:
• 1.40, Performance Management Summary of Changes
- Policy now aligns with automated Performance Management System.
- Changes the number of performance ratings from 3 to 5.
- Updates the performance cycle to the calendar year, January 1 – December 31.
- Eliminates the three-month reevaluation phase at the end of the cycle for employees rated as “Unsuccessful” (formerly “Below Contributor”)
- Formalizes the Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) process and allows for discipline up to termination at the conclusion of the PIP.
• 1.60, Standards of Conduct Summary of Changes
- Aligns policy with 1.40, Performance Management policy.
- Updates Attachment A to include unsatisfactory performance as an option for Group II and III Notices.
• 4.35, Leave Share Summary of Changes
- Probationary employees are eligible for leave share donations.
- Leave share donations may be used intermittently.
- Requires employees eligible for VSDP claims to file claim before using leave share donations.
Please contact policy@dhrm.virginia.gov with any questions.
VDFP Adjunct Instructor Spotlight: Leif Sundberg
Can you tell me about your career and what led you to VDFP today?
I started my journey with VDFP with the Ashburn Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company in 1995. I obtained my Firefighter 1&2, Fire Officer, and the associated fire/rescue related topics. In 1998, I began employment with the Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Department as a dispatcher and worked in that capacity until the summer of 1999 when I was accepted into the first recruit school Loudoun County offered. I worked in a number of stations, then in 2003 I was given an opportunity to expand my knowledge in fire prevention and investigation. I moved into the Fire Marshal’s Office in 2003 as a Fire Investigator, attending numerous VDFP-VFMA programs including 1033, 1031, and the Basic Law Enforcement programs. I was promoted to Captain in LCFR’s Fire Marshal’s Office in 2015 and promoted to the Deputy Fire Marshal position in 2019. I still hold that position and will until my retirement. After my attendance of VFMA’s programs in 2003, I noticed a need to keep the lamp burning and began instructing with VFMA in 2004, teaching topics such as explosives, firearms, other various law enforcement topics.
What would you say are your areas of expertise?
My primary focus for the last 22 years has been related to fire prevention and fire investigations. I have been assigned to the Loudoun County Bomb Squad since 2004, becoming a certified bomb technician in 2005. In that same year, I obtained my Department of Criminal Justice Services Firearms Instructor certification and began assisting VFMA with firearms.
How would you describe your teaching/coaching style?
Unlike some tasks within VDFP’s spectrum, most of my teaching is related to firearms and explosives. As such, my format is traditionally direct in approach, with hybrid lecture and demonstrative style. Most students I have taught in the last 20 some years have been new to firearms and/or explosives which requires a firm and direct approach for safety purposes.
What are the most rewarding aspects of instructing?
Working with the students to understand their needs and desires, not just of the time during instruction but years later. I still engage with fire marshals across the Commonwealth that I worked with in my first years of teaching. We are a very small community in the scope of VDFP, and it creates a very close-knit relationship.
How would you describe your work ethic?
I would like to consider myself as a dedicated member of the team, helping to achieve the overall goals.
If you could travel to any place in the world, where would it be?
As a military brat, I have had the opportunity to live in a lot of places. The Old Dominion has been my home for the last 30 years and I wouldn’t rather be anywhere other than here. While I work in Loudoun, I do favor Franklin County’s access to Smith Mountain Lake.
The Commonwealth of Virginia and NASCAR Partner for State Employee Offer
Dear State Employees,
The Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM) is pleased to announce that NASCAR and Martinsville Speedway has partnered with the Commonwealth to offer state employees a discount to the 2025 Fall NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway Sunday, October 26, 2025.
To recognize and thank you for your service to the Commonwealth, Martinsville Speedway extends $27.75 off selected grandstand tickets to the 2025 Fall NASCAR Cup Series on October 26.
Martinsville Speedway has a special ticket link for state employees to purchase these discounted tickets to the 2025 Fall NASCAR Cup Series. Please see below.
State Employee Appreciation Offer
NASCAR Martinsville Speedway
Purchase Tickets
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