Nathan Travis has been appointed as the new Deputy Chief Fire Officer at Oxfordshire County Council's Fire and Rescue Service.

Travis is currently the Assistant Chief Fire Officer and will take over the role from Colin Thomas in September.

Dave Etheridge, Oxfordshire County Council's Chief Fire Officer, added: "We are delighted to announce Nathan Travis as the new Deputy Chief Fire Officer following an extensive selection process. Colin Thomas has been a model public servant through dedicating over three decades of service to protect the public and make Oxfordshire safer and I would personally like to pay tribute to his commitment and professionalism.

"A thorough handover will now take place to ensure business continuity particularly around some of the major projects we currently have underway within the service. I am now looking forward to working with Nathan as my Deputy to ensure Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service continues to be one of the best in the UK."

Nathan joined Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service from Gloucestershire in 2010. He said: "It is a great privilege to be appointed as the next Deputy Chief Fire Officer of such an effective Fire and Rescue Service and I am looking forward to working with my colleagues across the County Council and other local partners to continue to provide excellent and innovative services that focus on creating and maintaining a safer Oxfordshire."

Councillor Judith Heathcoat, Oxfordshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Safer and Stronger Communities, added: "I would like to congratulate Nathan on his appointment and wish him every success in his new role."

Posted 16/05/2012 by richard.hook@pavpub.com