Operations
Fire Department Operations
The mission of the Operations Section of the Richmond Fire and Emergency Services Department is to provide high quality emergency and non-emergency services to residents and visitors of the City of Richmond. The goal of the Operations Section is to operate safely, effectively and efficiently while protecting against injury, loss of life, and/or property damage from all hazards to include fire, medical, and other emergencies.
Role of the Deputy Fire Chief of Operations
The Deputy Fire Chief of Operations is responsible for the leadership and management of response services from 20 fire/rescue stations that provide fire suppression, emergency medical, water rescue, trench/excavation rescue, confined space rescue, structural collapse rescue, hazardous materials mitigation and other Public Safety services for the city’s over 200,000 residents and thousands of visitors.
Deputy Chief of Operations
He has experience leading fire and emergency medical service operations, strategic planning, training and professional development, fiscal and budget management, fire protection and life safety, human resources management, community outreach, logistics, and information technology. During his tenure he served on various Northern Virginia and Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments regional committees and was a member of the National Capital Region Type III Incident Management Team. He was the co-chair of the Hampton Roads Fire Chief’s Association committee.
Chief Bonnette’s educational background includes an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science and a Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency Management. He is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management.
He has received several recognitions such as an award for dedication to the community of Portsmouth, VA in 2017 from the Church and Community in Action, a Fire Safety Commendation Award from the George Washington Chapter of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, and a Certificate of Appreciation from the Northern Virginia Fire & Rescue Leadership Development Institute for participation as an instructor/facilitator.