he Administrative & Professional Collaborative (APC) is the representative voice for the Administrative & Professional employees of FSCJ. In an effort to build cohesiveness, awareness and collegiality, each month we put a “spotlight” on one of our members.

October’s APC Spotlight shines on Sheldon Reed. As the Director of the Fire Academy of the South, Sheldon provides leadership and academic guidance to the Fire Academy. The Academy maintains a strong relationship with industries and agencies across the state of Florida providing industry brigade training, aircraft fire fighting training and other employer specific fire training. In the course of his duties, Sheldon is also the liaison for the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department (JFRD).  

During his nine year tenure, the Fire Academy has increased enrollment in the Fire Fighter II program, and instituted new programming including Marine firefighting, Aircraft firefighting, and the use of drones in public safety, and is currently developing a Liquefied Natural Gas prop, which will be one of only three in the United States. Chief Reed also implemented an EMT and paramedic program at the Fire Academy. The Fire Academy was named the Florida Fire Training Center of the Year in 2010 and in 2016 by the Florida Training Director's Association. 

Chief Reed retired from the City of Naples Fire Department after 25 years of service, and served the last seven years of his tenure as Chief of Department. Upon retirement from municipal service, he was the Fire Science Technology Coordinator for Edison State College in Fort Myers, FL, where he developed the curriculum for their first bachelor's degree, the Bachelor of Applied Science in Public Safety Management. Chief Reed possesses a bachelor’s degree in public administration. He has also taken executive level courses at the National Fire Academy and is certified as a Florida Fire Instructor III.

Outside the College, Sheldon and his wife enjoy riding his Harley, spending time at their Smoky Mountain retreat and building their North Carolina forever home.

Our spotlight shines on each campus/center at least once a year. Nominations for the spotlight may be directed to your campus representative or any officer. Learn more about APC on their website, blogs.fscj.edu/apcollaborative.