Randall (Randy) Hanifen was promoted to Assistant Chief of Operations in 2020 supervising department operations and logistics, the department’s five fire stations and community outreach efforts. He is part of a management team serving the Fire Chief and working alongside the Assistant Chief of Administration.

Randy began his firefighting career in 1994 in Mason; joined the West Chester Fire Department as a part-time firefighter in 1997, a career firefighter in 1998, and has moved up the ranks.

With a doctorate degree in Homeland Security from Northcentral University, Randy also works as a professor teaching graduate level courses in disaster planning and management.

He is the executive director/rescue team manager for the Butler County Technical Rescue Team, a former task for leader for Ohio Task Force I FEMA US&R and is the International Company Officers Section Chair of Association of Fire Chiefs.

Randy strives to provide exceptional service to the residents and businesses of West Chester through the careful allocation of resources in order to provide the highest level of fire suppression, fire prevention and emergency medical services.