CHIEF ALLEN WARD

SPECIALTY DIVISION REGIONAL DIRECTOR, COMMAND FIRE CHIEF

Chief Allen Ward provides oversight and support to the onsite leadership and personnel. Mr. Ward is our Specialty Fire Division’s Regional Director/Command Fire Chief. He also functions as our Project Director for our operations. He is qualified to provide expert knowledge and direction in all areas of ARFF and Emergency Services. He is committed to continuously improving services and as a result, remains an on-call and ready resource.

Chief Ward joined the Rural Metro Fire team in 2001 as a Reserve Firefighter/EMT at the Port Columbus International Airport operation in Columbus, Ohio where he rose through the ranks as a full-time Firefighter/EMT, Fire Captain, and Fire Chief. During his tenure as Fire Chief, he supervised 28 firefighters and 20+ unarmed security guards and administered a budget in excess of over $2 million per year. In 2006, he was promoted to Operations Chief for the Specialty Fire Division and provided support to all Rural Metro Fire ARFF/Industrial contracts. In 2013, he was promoted to Regional Director/Command Fire Chief and is responsible for the supervision and management of all Specialty Fire operations at commercial airports, airparks, and industrial facilities administering a budget in excess of $30 million per year.

Chief Ward’s military career spans twenty-four years in the Missouri and Ohio National Guard and U.S. Army where he served as the subject matter expert between the U.S. Army Engineer Center and all Army Engineer Fire Fighting units; development of training products for Advanced Individual Training (AIT) for Army firefighters. He also served as the life cycle manager for U.S. Army Engineer Fire Fighting equipment totaling in excess of $45 million and determined requirements for new equipment and existing equipment system modernization improvements.

Chief Ward holds the following International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) and National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications (Pro-Board) certifications as Firefighter I & II, Airport Fire Fighter, Fire Inspector, and Fire Officer. He also is certified as Emergency Medical Technician – Basic with the Ohio Division of Emergency Medical Services. He is a member in good standing with the National Fire Protection Association, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and the Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Working Group where he serves as the Section III Manager and our sustaining member. He represents Rural Metro Fire membership in the national organization; American Association of Airport Executives and the six American Association of Airport Executives Chapters.

Chief Ward is a published author with many published works including the following:

• Books
  • Army Fire Fighting: A Historical Perspective. Authorhouse. (December 2012)

• Articles
  • U.S. Army Firefighters. Engineer Professional Bulletin. (February 2000, Volume 30)
  • Port Columbus International Airport. ARFFWG News

He has nearly 40 years of demonstrated ARFF and fire service leadership experience. His passion for ARFF and emergency services enables him to be a valuable tool in our customer’s operations.