AUSTRALIAN FIRE SERVICE MEDAL

CITATION

Jeremy Jeffrey Smith

Regional Chief

Tasmania Fire Service

Mr Smith joined the Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) in February 1987 as a recruit firefighter. During more than 29 years with the TFS he has progressed through the firefighting and leadership ranks and quickly reached his current position of Regional Chief for Southern Tasmania.

Due to his extensive operational experience in urban and bush firefighting he was pivotal in the development of the TFS remote area firefighting capability which has been fundamental to the ability of TFS to respond quickly and effectively to fires in remote areas of the state. He has also made an invaluable contribution to the development of Tasmania's Urban Fire and Rescue Capability through operational training, command and leadership as Hobart Fire Brigade Chief.

He is currently a state-endorsed level Ill Incident Controller and a certified NIMS type IV and V Blue Card Incident Commander. He has been deployed to bush fire operations interstate and internationally, including deployments in Victoria, New South Wales and, in 2008, Northern California. He undertook a bush fire research tour of the US and Canada in 2012.

His natural leadership ability, and the capacity to command the respect of his peers, has seen him act in the position of Deputy Chief Officer on numerous occasions and assume the position of State Fire Controller during the protracted 2015-16 fire season.

Mr Smith represents TFS on the State Multi-Agency Fire Coordination (MAC) group, the AFAC Rural and Land Management Group, and is the Pacific Islands Liaison Officer for Nauru. He has made a significant contribution to Bushfire Interoperability in Tasmania through his leadership of the Multi-Agency Coordination Group which has increased Tasmania's capacity, not only to respond to fires effectively across all tenures, but also to maximise the level of preparedness across agencies.

Mr Smith contributes extensively to the industry on a National and International basis through his participation and leadership in a range of forums and for his lengthy, committed and dedicated service he was awarded the National Medal in 2002 and the first clasp in 2012