Names in the News: March 20, 2022

CHRISTINE RICHARDSON (left), STEVEN HALL JR. (center), and K. TODD SPRUILL (right) were all promoted to the rank of assistant chief with the Richmond (VA) Fire Department (RFD) in December 2021. All three began their careers with the RFD in April 2000, completing the academy as classmates in Richmond Fire Recruit Class 74, and are graduates of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program. Richardson and Spruill are assigned as shift commanders in Operations and Hall will oversee the Support Services Division.

MATT KINLEY was named as the sixth-ever chief in the 48-year history of the Seminole County (FL) Fire Department (SCFD). Kinley is a 21-year SCFD veteran and had been serving as interim chief since December 2021. He began his career with the SCFD in 2001 and has worked in the department’s Special Hazards & Operations Team and Tower Team. After serving as a firefighter/paramedic for seven years, he rose to the ranks of lieutenant, battalion chief, assistant chief of EMS operations, deputy chief of administration, and deputy chief of operations.

LAURA RIDENOUR will become the new deputy chief of the Dearborn (MI) Fire Department (DFD) on May 1. The promotion makes her the highest-ranking woman in the department’s 114-year history. Ridenour is a 20-year DFD veteran and has served as fire marshal since 2012. She replaces outgoing DFD Deputy Chief Joey Thorington, who announced his retirement this year. A Dearborn native, Ridenour was named Fire Inspector of the Year in 2013 by The Metropolitan Detroit Fire Inspector Society and is the vice president of the Oakland County Association of Arson and Fire Investigators.

JAMES WILLIAMSON will take over as the new chief of the Newton Falls (OH) Joint Fire District on April 1. Williamson arrives in Newton Falls from the Brookfield (OH) Fire Department, where he rose to the rank of captain. He has served as a firefighter in Trumbull County, Ohio, for 27 years and is also a fire instructor. Williamson began his career in Vienna Township, Ohio, in 1995 and has also worked in the towns of Bristol, Bazetta, Howland, and Farmington.

RUY LOZANO was announced as the new chief of the New Braunfels (TX) Fire Department (NBFD) on March 18. He will take over the position from previous NBFD Chief Patrick O’Connell, who retired in September 2021. Lozano is a 25-year veteran of the Houston (TX) Fire Department, where he rose to the rank of assistant chief. He has a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in business administration and is a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves. Lozano is also a master firefighter and fire instructor with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection.