Greater Manchester’s Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Dave Russel has been awarded the King’s Fire Service Medal for distinguished service – the highest honour that fire service personnel can receive.
He receives the award for services to the fire and rescue service and public safety.
Dave has served in the fire and rescue service for more than 30 years, many of which were spent at Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) before he moved to GMFRS in September 2020 to take on the role of CFO.
Since joining GMFRS Dave has transformed the service’s leadership and culture and significantly improved the training, preparedness, and capability for responding to terrorist attacks and mass casualty incidents. Just last month, the service was awarded ‘Emergency Service of the Year’ along with two other awards at the 2023 FIRE Magazine Excellence in Fire and Emergency Awards.
Dave Russel said:
“I am truly honoured and surprised to be awarded the King’s Fire Service Medal. It’s been a huge privilege to be part of the fire and rescue service for 32 years and to serve and protect the people and places of Lancashire and Greater Manchester.
“But it’s not a job that can be done alone and this award is not just for me, it’s for those who have supported me on my journey, including all those at GMFRS who have worked tirelessly over the past three years to support the continuing transformation of our service into what is it today.
“I want to pay tribute to my colleagues and hope they can all share in this good news as we continue on our journey to becoming a modern, flexible and resilient fire and rescue service.”
Greater Manchester’s Deputy Mayor for Police, Crime, Criminal Justice and Fire, Kate Green, said:
“We are so proud of Dave and everything he has done since joining GMFRS. This honour – the highest that can be awarded in the fire service – is richly deserved for a career spent serving communities in our city-region and across the North West.
“Dave would be the first to share any recognition with his colleagues past and present, and that is the measure of who he is as a person and a leader. From day one in Greater Manchester, he made it his priority to uphold a culture of openness, integrity, and professionalism across all areas of the service. He has already steered GMFRS through some significant challenges, from the pandemic to the Arena Inquiry, and the progress made by the service in that time has been recognised by official inspectors and by peers across the country.
“Dave’s frontline leadership is transforming GMFRS for the better, and this award truly is a testament to the difference he and his team are making.”
