The Red Cross of the National Capital & Greater Chesapeake Region is proud to announce the appointment of Dale Kunce as its new Chief Executive Officer covering the DMV. In his new position, Kunce will lead a team of humanitarians across multiple lines of lifesaving Red Cross services – including disaster relief efforts and support of the U.S. military community and their families.
The National Capital & Greater Chesapeake Region — comprised of the National Capital Area, Loudoun & Prince Williams Counties, Montgomery, Howard & Frederick Counties, Central Maryland, Southern Maryland and Delmarva chapters — is powered by volunteers, training nearly 4,000 new team members in 2021 alone.
Kunce transitioned to his new role on April 30, 2022, and will oversee an operation that responded to more than 1,300 local emergencies last year. Additionally, the Red Cross of the National Capital & Greater Chesapeake Region provided financial support to nearly 2,600 DMV-area families following home-fire-related tragedies in 2021.
To help reduce home fire-related deaths and injuries, the Red Cross launched its Home Fire Campaign in 2014—installing free smoke alarms in homes, replacing batteries in existing alarms and helping families create home fire escape plans. These efforts - which have saved nearly 1,300 lives across the U.S. - continued in Washington, DC on May 7, with Red Cross volunteers and partners reaching around 500 residences with preparedness and home fire safety information. Additionally, with the help of DC Fire & Rescue personnel, teams installed dozens of free smoke alarms in homes.
“It was an honor to see our partners and nearly 100 dedicated volunteers out in the community during the first week of my new role,” Kunce said. “We know having properly working smoke alarms cuts the risk of home fire-related deaths and injuries by 50 percent. This is lifesaving work and I’m happy to be a part of this lifesaving team.”
A 2020 40 under 40 honoree in Portland, Oregon, Kunce first joined the Red Cross in 2013, serving the mission internationally as the Global Lead for Information and Communications Technology for American Red Cross International Services. During this time, he co-founded the Red Cross Missing Maps program.
Before joining the Red Cross of the National Capital & Greater Chesapeake Region, he served as the Regional Chief Executive Officer for the Red Cross Cascades Region - in Oregon and Southwest Washington. In this role for 3.5 years, Dale focused on areas of core mission delivery and building and strengthening relationships at every level— including the board of directors, community partners, staff and volunteers.
He led the Cascades Red Cross team through the historic 2020 Oregon Wildfires, has responded to numerous large-scale disasters in Africa and Asia and frequently deploys to support large-scale disaster response operations across the U.S.
Kunce succeeds Linda Voss, who retired from Red Cross service in February 2022 after a decades-long career leading teams in places like Kentucky, Southern California and Washington, DC.
Red Cross teams will be out installing free smoke alarms again on May 14 in Brentwood, MD. To volunteer to help install free smoke alarms and save lives, visit http://www.SoundTheAlarm.org .
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.