Ronald James Dobson, CBE, QFSM, FIFireE is a retired senior British firefighter. He was the

Chief Fire Officer Chief fire officer (CFO), formerly often just chief officer, is the highest rank in the fire and rescue services of the United Kingdom. There are currently 50 chief fire officers serving in the United Kingdom in charge of the local authority fire ...

of the

London Fire Brigade The London Fire Brigade (LFB) is the fire and rescue service for London, the capital of the United Kingdom. It was formed by the Metropolitan Fire Brigade Act 1865, under the leadership of superintendent Eyre Massey Shaw. It has 5,992staff, inc ...

London Fire Brigade: LFB appoints new Commissioner, press release: R062/07, 01 Oct 07, (accessed 23 Oct 07)
/ref> until 31 December 2016.

Career

Dobson joined the London Fire Brigade in 1979 and rose through the ranks to be promoted Assistant Chief Fire Officer in 2000. In 2002, he became the principal officer responsible for delivering the Brigade's day-to-day operations. On 1 October 2007, he was appointed Commissioner for Fire and Emergency Planning at the

London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority The London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA) was a functional body of the Greater London Authority (GLA), established under the Greater London Authority Act 1999. Its principal purpose was to run the London Fire Brigade. The 17 membe ...

, succeeding Sir Ken Knight. He was responsible for the world's third largest

fire and rescue service A firefighter is a first responder and rescuer extensively trained in firefighting, primarily to extinguish conflagration, hazardous fires that threaten life, property, and the environment as well as to rescue people and in some cases or jurisd ...

with 112 fire stations and 7000 staff, 6000 of whom are operational firefighters. Until his promotion to Chief Fire Officer, he was responsible for operational policy and training. The title is generally shortened to commissioner – the most senior officer of the LFEPA, but the role includes all the functions of a Chief Fire Officer or Brigade Manager in a local authority fire and rescue service.

Honours

Dobson was awarded the

Queen's Fire Service Medal __NOTOC__ The King's Fire Service Medal, introduced in 1954, is awarded to members of the fire services in the United Kingdom for distinguished service or gallantry. It was also formerly awarded by Commonwealth countries, most of which now have t ...

(QFSM) in the

2005 New Year Honours New Year Honours were granted in the United Kingdom and New Zealand at the start of 2005. Among these in the UK were knighthoods awarded to Mike Tomlinson, the educationalist; Derek Wanless, who led a review of the National Health Service; an ...

for "distinguished service". He was appointed

Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

(CBE) in the

2011 New Year Honours The New Year Honours 2011 were announced on 31 December 2010 in the United Kingdom,United Kingdom: New Zealand,New Zealand"New Year Honours 2011"(14 January 2011) 2 ''New Zealand Gazette'' 55. The Cook IslandsThe Cook Islands: Grenada,Grenada: ...

. He is a recipient of the

Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal The Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (french: link=no, Médaille du jubilé d'or de la Reine Elizabeth II) or the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 2002 to mark the 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's ...

, the

Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (french: Médaille du jubilé de diamant de la reine Elizabeth II) or The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 2012 to mark the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's ...

and the

Fire Brigade Long Service and Good Conduct Medal The Fire and Rescue Service Long Service and Good Conduct Medal was established in June 1954 as a long service medal awarded to members of fire and rescue services throughout the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. It was fir ...

Order of the British Empire (Civil) Ribbon

Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal ribbon

Career

Honours

References

See also