Senior Deputy McDowell will join five other Deputy State Fire Marshals from each of the agency's regional offices and the Bomb Squad on June 16 at the Maryland State Firefighters Convention in Ocean City for the "James C. Robertson, Deputy State Fire Marshal of the Year" award.
In 2024, DFM McDowell led 14 fire and explosive investigations and assisted in 29 more. Five of the 14 cases he led were determined to be incendiary, resulting in three arrests, including two cases of first-degree arson. One high-profile case involved a suspect who broke into and set fire to a single-family home in Waldorf, causing extensive damage.
Senior Deputy McDowell was the lead investigator in the 2023 Line-of-Duty Death of Firefighter Trossbach in St. Mary's County. His leadership and coordination with OSHA, NIOSH, the Naval District Washington Fire Department, and local agencies were instrumental in producing a comprehensive incident report.
In addition to his fire investigation duties, DFM McDowell became a certified bomb technician in 2024 after completing the six-week Hazardous Devices School in Huntsville, Alabama. He now serves on the Bomb Squad, responding to explosive incidents statewide and supporting large-scale security operations.
Further demonstrating his commitment to public safety, McDowell was also selected in 2024 as a Task Force Officer (TFO) with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). This role allows him to operate under federal authority and leverage national resources in complex fire and explosive investigations.
Further demonstrating his commitment to public safety, McDowell was also selected in 2024 as a Task Force Officer (TFO) with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). This role allows him to operate under federal authority and leverage national resources in complex fire and explosive investigations.
Despite the demands of his position, McDowell actively participates in community outreach events such as Camp COPS, Touch-a-Truck, and No Hunger November food drives.
A lifelong learner, McDowell graduated Summa Cum Laude from Columbia Southern University with a Bachelor of Science in Fire Administration, concentrating in Fire Investigation.
