Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service Leadership Team
John Beard MBA
Chief Fire Officer
Chief Fire Officer John Beard has overall responsibility for running Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service.
In addition, he has broader corporate responsibilities as a member of the council's Corporate Management Team;
John oversees Community Safety and leads on the government's counter terrorism PREVENT agenda.
Deputy Chief
Fire Officer
(Post temporarily
vacant)
The Deputy Chief Fire Officer is responsible for leading the Service on a day to day basis in support of the Chief Fire Officer.
Taking strategic leadership and management responsibility for all areas of the service, making sure resources are used effectively to develop strategy and ensure successful delivery in order to provide professional services to the communities of Cumbria. This includes steering and guiding a team of over 600 dedicated managers and firefighters across 38 fire stations and a number of functional departments.
John Walkden
Area Manager
People, Development
and Assurance
Area Manager John Walkden is Head of People, Development and Assurance and has strategic responsibility for ensuring that the service provides effective attraction, recruitment and training for all staff, cultural development and ensuring that the service supports the organisational development of Cumbria County Council. From an Assurance perspective John also has strategic responsibility for service assurance including multi agency training & exercising and health and safety.
Craig Drinkald
Area Manager
Head of
Community Safety
Area Manager Craig Drinkald is the Strategic lead overseeing delivery of the Fire Protection and Prevention activities of the Service. He is also the lead for service planning, performance monitoring and service improvement activity including arrangements for HMICFRS inspections.
This work supports our aim of ensuring that the communities, visitors and businesses of Cumbria are protected from the effects of fire and other emergencies.
Nathaniel Hooton
Area Manager
Head of Service Support
Reform and Resilience
Area Manager Nathaniel Hooton is the strategic lead for Service Support including Technical Services, Operational Support, and Fleet. In addition he has overall responsibility for the County Council's Resilience Unit.
This work supports our aim of ensuring the communities, visitors and businesses of Cumbria are protected, prepared and receive an effective and efficient Fire and Rescue service.
Brian Steadman
Area Manager
Operational Response
Area Manager Brian Steadman has the strategic responsibility for the effective delivery of the Service's operational response, including human resource and financial activities. The management and co-ordination of the Command management teams ensures effective crewing and delivery of strategic services against the identified risk. Brian is also accountable for the evaluation of organisational performance against the agreed targets and objectives.
