Ohio Fire Officer Credentialing

The Ohio Fire Chiefs’ Association (OFCA) and the Ohio Fire & Emergency Services Foundation (OF&ESF) have identified the need to further enhance the professionalism of chief fire officers throughout the State of Ohio by the establishment of a uniform Fire Officer credentialing program. The goal of the program is to ensure a strong degree of accountability. The Credentialing Program sets forth the goals needed for fire officers to establish a higher degree of professionalism so that fire officers may be better prepared to serve their department, their community, and other organizations. The goal is to promote the professional development of the fire officer in Ohio and to assist these officers in their daily operations, management, and leadership.

Credentialed participants will be required to renew their credentials every three years.

The OFCA, through this program, has attempted to establish occupational education, fire service related training, and experience criteria relevant to the position of fire officer. This process provides an equal opportunity for the volunteer, paid-on-call, or full-time applicant to meet the minimum criteria for achieving the Ohio Fire Officer credential. An individual seeking OFO credentialing must be an active member of a Fire and/or EMS organization and member of the Ohio Fire Chiefs’ Association at the time of application.

By participation in this program, an applicant agrees to abide by a Mission Statement and Code of Professional Conduct. The Credentialing Review Committee will review all applications and make a recommendation to the OFCA Board of Directors. The OFCA Board of Directors will retain the final approval of all credentialing applications.

Ohio Fire Officer Credentialing Application

To renew your credentials,  click here  to download the re-credential application. Only use this if you are currently an OFO.


Ohio Fire Chiefs' Association Credentialed Officers


David M. Baird, OFO - Hambden Fire Department

Jeffrey A. Bennett, OFO - Sylvania Fire/EMS

Brian Bittner, OFO - Mentor Fire Department

Joshua Brownson, OFO - Wooster Division of Fire

Abigail Buday, OFO - Western Reserve Joint Fire District

Terry Bumgardner, OFO - Central Fire District

Justin Burress, OFE, OFO - City of Blue Ash Fire Department

Robert Cabral, OFE, OFO - Union Township Fire Department

Matthew Claflin, OFO - Akron Fire, University of Akron

Kenneth W. Collier, Jr. OFO - Sugarcreek Township Fire Department

Ronald E. Conn Jr, OFO - Springfield Township

Jason Croker, OFO - Urbana Fire Division

Robert Crone, OFE, OFO - Green Township Fire & EMS

Brian Cyphert, OFO - Seville- Guilford Fire and EMS

Matthew Dillon, OFO - City of Oregon Fire & Rescue Department

John Eberly, OFO - Wooster Twp. Fire Department

Marc Edwards, OFO - Wooster Twp. Fire Department

Ryan Fairbanks, OFO - Lakewood Fire Department

Ricky R. Fetter, OFO - Parma Fire Department

Keith L. Geiger , OFO - City of Green Division of Fire

Robert Hallen, OFO - Rocky River Fire Department

Chris Hawkins, OFO - Wooster Division of Fire

Cory Hinderliter, OFO - City of Akron Fire Department

Shane Jenkins, OFO - Lafayette Township Fire Department

Tammy Johnson, OFO - Seville-Guilford Fire Department

Stephen Kantorik, OFO - Seville-Guilford Fire Department

Jason Kay, OFO - Grandview Heights Division of Fire

Donald Keller, OFO - Wooster Division of Fire

Charles Kline, OFO - Miami Township Fire-Rescue

Michael J. Kocab, OFO - Willoughby Fire Department

Edmund Kuzminski MO, OFC, OFO, CFO, CTO - Washington Twp. Fire Department

Tara Ladrach, OFO - Wooster Twp Fire Department

Kenneth L. Ledford, OFO - Bedford Heights Fire Department

Matt Losee, OFE, OFO - Union Township Fire Department

Justin Martin, OFO - Champion Twp Fire Department

James B. McDonald, OFO - Perry Joint Fire District

Nathan Messerly, OFO, OFC - Wooster Twp. Fire Department

John Paul Michalak, OFO - Wickliffe Fire Department

Ryan Myers, OFO - Wooster Twp Fire Department

Matthew Niemer, OFO - Green Township Fire/EMS

Kelly Norris, OFO - Whitehouse Fire Department

Tyler O'Neal, OFO - Wooster Twp Fire Department

Shawn Parsell, OFO - Jackson Township Fire Department

Andy Pea, OFO - Wooster Twp. Fire Department

Phillip Pelley, OFO - Bazetta Twp. Fire Department

Andrew Register, OFO - Deerfield Township Warren County

Brittany Rufener, OFO - Seville Guilford Fire & EMS

Benjamin Sampson, OFO - Troy Fire Department

Michael Savetski OFO - Lafayette Township Fire Department

David Shaffer, OFO - Wooster Div. of Fire

Randy Stelk, OFO - Warren Fire Department

Michael Stine, OFE, OFO - Springfield Township Fire Department

Matt Sturgeon, OFO - Wooster Twp Fire Department

John Sullivan, OFO - Greentown Volunteer Fire Department

Brian Sunderhaus, OFO - Delhi Township Fire Department

Brian Thomas OFO - Marion Twp Fire Department

Greg Thompson, OFO - Wooster Division of Fire

Rob Tieche Jr., OFO - Cardinal Joint Fire District

Jason Todd, OFO - Deerfield Township

Cody R. Uniack, OFO - Lafayette Township Fire Department

Shawn Yerian, MPA, OFO - Canal Fulton Fire Department

Nate Yoder, OFO - Wooster Twp. Fire Department

Michael Yurkonis, OFO, FP-C - Washington Township Fire Department