West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority has appointed Philip Hales as Deputy Chief Fire Officer.
Mr Hales served in Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service before transferring to West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) as temporary Assistant Chief Fire Officer in 2010. He was made substantive in that role in March 2012, before being promoted to acting DCFO in November 2013.
He said, “It’s a great feeling and I am very proud to become the Deputy Chief Fire Officer of the West Midlands Fire Service.
“I am grateful that the Chief Fire officer and the authority have shown faith in me to continue the work we are doing. We have first class people who serve a fantastic and diverse community. Through the challenges that face us, I will ensure we continually strive to provide excellent prevention, protection and response services.”
DCFO Hales is Director for Service Support at WMFS, and West Midlands regional secretary for the Chief Fire Officers’ Association (CFOA). He has been the fire service’s national lead officer on working with children and young people for a number of years, and believes passionately in the fire and rescue service’s wider role working with the community to improve wellbeing.
Married, with two daughters, Mr Hales was awarded an MSc in Business Management at Manchester Metropolitan University and also achieved a PGC in Strategic Leadership at the University of Warwick in 2009.
