Commissioner confirms new Chief for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service

Staffordshire Commissioner Ben Adams today (12 October) confirmed the appointment of Rob Barber as the new Chief Fire Officer of Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, after the decision was ratified at a special meeting of the Police, Fire and Crime Panel.

Rob Barber, currently Staffordshire’s Deputy Chief Fire Officer, joined the service in 1997 and over the last 24 years has worked throughout the county in all operational roles.

He was the project coordinator for the fire control project, and then went on to work within the business transformation team. He became a principle officer in 2014 and went on to be appointed as Deputy Chief Fire Officer in 2016.

Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime, Ben Adams, said: ‘I am grateful to the Police, Fire and Crime Panel for their deliberations today and am delighted to have Robs’ appointment confirmed.

‘As Staffordshire’s new Chief Fire Officer, Rob brings a wealth of operational and strategic experience, across all areas of the service. I’m looking forward to working together to deliver a fire and rescue plan that shapes Staffordshire Fire and Rescue for the future, providing efficient and effective services to keep the people of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent safe.’

Mr Barber said: ‘I want to ensure that Staffordshire is one of the safest places in the country to live, work, or visit. My key priority will be to provide a first-class service to our communities across prevention, protection and response in order to deliver the highest level of safety to our communities.

‘I am fully invested in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent; I have always lived in the county and so do my family and friends. It is vitally important to me that our city and county are at the forefront of delivering a top-class fire service and I will endeavour to deliver this.’

Mr Barber will take up his post following the retirement of current Chief Fire Officer Becci Bryant this month.