NSW Fire Brigades appoints new Regional South Commander
Published: 5th February 2007
New South Wales Fire Brigades (NSWFB) Commissioner Greg Mullins today announced the appointment of Chief Superintendent Michael Ryan to the recently created position of Regional South Area Commander.
Chief Superintendent Ryan will be responsible for three regional zones which make up the Regional South Command, stretching from Forbes in the north, Eden in the south and Deniliquin in the west. This represents more than 1,100 firefighters attached to 52 fire stations across the south of NSW.
Commissioner Mullins said Chief Superintendent Ryan was a highly experienced officer, with close to three decades service in the NSWFB as well as post-graduate tertiary qualifications.
"Chief Superintendent Ryan has been a fire officer for 27 years and has extensive operational and management experience which will serve him well in this important leadership role," Commissioner Mullins stated.
Chief Superintendent Michael Ryan said he would work towards achieving a number of key objectives for the NSWFB.
"I will be working to ensure firefighters attached to the 52 stations in my area are trained and equipped to continue providing local communities and businesses with the quality emergency services they have come to expect.
"I will also be working closely with other emergency services agencies to ensure we plan and prepare effectively for major incidents.
"Another important role of the NSWFB is the promotion of community fire safety awareness such as through programs we run in schools and with the elderly to reduce the number of fire-related injuries in the home."
Prior to being appointed Regional South Area Commander, Chief Superintendent Ryan was Assistant Director of the NSWFB's Learning and Development Unit, Zone Commander of Monaro, and before that managed and led the NSWFB's Operational Information Services Unit.
The largest incident Chief Superintendent Ryan has commanded was coordinating the NSWFB's response to the Kosciuszko bushfire emergency in the summer of 2002-03, when two thirds of Kosciuszko National Park burnt during the worst bushfire in the park for more than 70 years.
Chief Superintendent Ryan has a Masters Degree in Public Policy and Administration from Charles Sturt University, Graduate Certificates in Management and Applied Management and is a qualified Fire Engineer, graduating from the UK's Institution of Fire Engineers.
To organise an interview and/or photo with Chief Superintendent Michael Ryan please contact him on 0427 240 108