SHAHEEN HOSTS NEW HAMPSHIRE FIRST RESPONDER AT STATE OF THE UNION

U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) will host Bill McQuillen, a Portsmouth firefighter and Secretary-Treasurer of the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire, as her guest at next week’s State of the Union address. The State of the Union will be delivered by President Obama Tuesday, January 20 at 9:00 PM. Shaheen selected McQuillen as her guest this year as a way to show her appreciation for New Hampshire's first responders. 

“New Hampshire’s first responders are some of the nation's best, putting their lives at risk every day to keep us and our communities safe,” Shaheen said. “It’s an honor to host Bill in Washington to show my appreciation for all that he and his fellow first responders do for New Hampshire year round.”

Bill McQuillen is a 25 year veteran of the fire service and is a current Lieutenant at in the City of Portsmouth. He began his career in at the Portsmouth Fire Department in 1990 as a firefighter and was promoted to Fire Lieutenant in 2008. He has been a member of both IAFF Local 1313 Portsmouth Fire Fighters Association, and IAFF Local 4039 Portsmouth Professional Fire Officers Association. He has been elected by his peers to serve as Local 1313 President for 13 years, and has served on Local 4039’s the Executive Board as President and currently Secretary-Treasurer.

McQuillen has also been a member and leader of his state association, the Professional Fire Fighters of NH. He was selected as PFFNH Trustee in 1996 then served as District Vice President in 2000. In 2002, Bill was elected to his current role of Secretary-Treasurer to the organization.

In 2010, Bill was elected to the Governor’s Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council, and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Council. He currently lives in Portsmouth with his wife Molly and their two children, Liam and Brendan.