Chatham-Kent Fire and Emergency Services is excited to announce that they have successfully recruited Mr. Chris Case to fill the vacant Assistant Chief position. The hiring of Mr. Case re-affirms Chatham-Kent Council’s direction of Resident Attraction and Retention and that Chatham-Kent is an open and welcoming community.
Multiple applications were received from across Canada, the U.S. and over seas for this position.
Case aligned strongly with council’s strategic directions, CKFES’ strategic priorities and the work being done with our partners CKPS and HFS on the FIRST strategy.
Case is a senior fire officer, highly educated and is a recognized expert in emergency services and crisis management (including firefighting, inter-agency collaboration, hazardous materials, fire investigation, explosives, terrorist threats, chemical, biological and radiological and nuclear incident command).
Currently (and for the past 10 years), Case has been an Instructor at the U.K. Fire Service College on matters of hazardous materials and explosives, as well as a Visiting Lecturer to the British Army School of Ammunition.
The courses taught by Case include: Fire Investigation; Post-blast Investigation; Explosives Chemistry; CBRNe & Improvised Explosive Device Operations and Investigations; Hazardous Materials and Environmental Protection Incidents and Fire Ground Chemistry.
Case holds a Diploma in Hazardous Materials and Environmental Protection from Coventry University in the U.K.
Case is a lifelong learner. He has pursued courses at a Master’s of Science degree level (in Explosives Chemistry & Theory) at the British Defence Academy (Cranfield University) and is currently working on an Executive Masters of Business Administration Degree from the University of Bedfordshire in the U.K.
Further, Case holds two post-graduate qualifications in Public Sector Strategic and Emergency Management from Anglia Ruskin University in the U.K.; Accreditation from the Office of Government Commerce in London (on Project Management and Regulation of Investigatory Practices Act); and, a Certificate (with Distinction) from the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety & Health.
Case has also undertaken Command Qualifications at the Fire Service College (Moreton in Marsh) in subjects such as
– Incident Command
– Hazmat Operations
– Aviation Incidents
– Marine Incidents
– Technical Rescue
– Incident Logistics
– Code Enforcement
– Community Fire Safety
– Public Relations and Communications
– Fire Investigation
– Human Resources Management
In addition to the foregoing, Mr. Case has also been a frequent Lecturer at prestigious Universities and Institutions including:
– Visiting Fellow to Glasgow University Centre for Health, Environment and Risk Research;
– Advisor and lecturer to the EU Commission for Justice, Freedom and Security;
– Visiting Lecturer to the British Army School of Ammunition;
– Awarded a Fellowship of the Institute of Explosives Engineers;
– Visiting Lecturer to Anglia Ruskin Business School / Law School; (Masters in International Law Course)
– Visiting Lecturer to Liverpool John Moore University School of Forensic Science;
– Visiting Lecturer to the University of Central Lancashire – Fire Engineering Degree Course;
– Commander of the Military & Hospitaller Order of St Lazarus (Temple Herdewyke) for charitable works to support injured service personnel;
– Instructor for the International Association of Arson Investigators; and
– UK Chapter Director of the International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators.
– Speaker to the Bomb Squad Commanders Conference – Bureau for Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) Washington DC
– Advisor on Pyrotechnic Devices to the Metropolitan Police SO15 Counter Terrorist Command – Bomb Data Centre
– Was awarded Her Majesties Fire Service Long Service and Meritorious Conduct Medal 2013.
Case has also published a multitude of papers and has been the Keynote Speaker at events around the world on the topics of Firefighting, Firefighter Safety, Multi-government Agency Reponses to Protect Communities, Arson and Pyrotechnics, Combating Terrorist Threats, Fatal Incident Investigations, Government Tackling Crime, among others.
In terms of his work history, for the past 25 years (1991 – present), Case has worked in various Commander Roles for the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service in the United Kingdom. This Fire and Rescue Service is now considered to be one of the highest performing Emergency Services in the U.K.
Case has worked as Operational Logistics and Engineering Commander (2015 – present), Area Commander (2010 – 2015); Head of Fire Protection and Enforcement (Brigade Fire Marshall, 2009-2010); Director of Operations (2008-2009); Threat Response Group Manager/Crime Task Force Commander (2005-2008); Assistant Divisional Officer (Head of Joint Arson and Explosives Operations Unit, which was a Secondment to the Police, 2003-2006); and other Officer and Firefighter positions (1992 – 2001).
In addition to the foregoing, Case created the first joint Police, Military & Fire Service task force in the UK to tackle arson & the misuse of explosives, both in terms of dealing with offenders and controlling the supply of explosives.
Case was invited to work in the UK Government to develop new legislation and acted as a Consultant to investigate a number of high profile security incidents in the UK and Europe. He then moved to create Europe’s first Joint Police / Fire / City Task Force to manage over 100 inter-agency personnel to target criminality and protect the vulnerable using intelligence data to pinpoint areas of risk.
Case received national awards for his work.
Additional appointments that haven’t been mentioned yet include Case being a School Governor, Director of an Arts Project bringing experience and employment opportunities to young people and a Trustee of the Royal Armouries (United Kingdom’s national museum of arms and armour, including artillery) (2008 – present), where he is Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.
This position is acquired by Prime Ministerial Appointment to the Strategic Board of Trustees with legal responsibility for the National Collection based at three UK sites including the Tower of London.
He is the Lead board member for the UK National Firearms Centre, providing intelligence assistance and training to Police, Military, Scientific and Special Forces teams operating internationally.
Case is also an Expert Evaluator and Advisor to the European Commission (2009 – Present) where he is an appointed evaluator and advisor to the European Research Agency on funds such as ‘Horizon 2020’ with an $80 billion Euro budget.
He is responsible for the evaluation of academic application for funds against pragmatic outcomes requiring impact in the areas of Counter Terrorism, Security, Heritage Protection and Community Safety.
Case will formally assume his duties on May 9, 2016, and will be followed to Canada by his wife and their four children, in late June.
