Montgomery County ESD 1

Rank: Fire Chief

Date of Hire: 12/08/1998

EMS Certification: Basic 

Chief Oliphant's journey in the fire service was inspired by a family tradition, as his father held the position of Assistant Chief at the Cut & Shoot Volunteer Fire Department. His early exposure to the world of firefighting, thanks to his family ties, ignited his passion for this noble profession.

In 1998, Chief Oliphant began his service with Montgomery County ESD1, marking the beginning of a remarkable career. Over the years, he ascended through the ranks, ultimately earning the title of Fire Chief in 2011.

One of Chief Oliphant's most notable achievements came in 2016 when he and his staff orchestrated the merger of ESD1 and ESD12 following a pivotal election. Under his leadership, ESD1 has experienced remarkable growth, characterized by the establishment of two new fire stations, a logistics facility, and the acquisition of numerous cutting-edge fire trucks. During this period of change, ESD1 has seen its workforce more than double, and we now have an amazing team of 100 full-time employees.

Under the direction of Chief Oliphant, Montgomery County ESD 1 developed their very first In-House Fire Academy. Through collaborative efforts with his team, 13 promising firefighters successfully graduated from this groundbreaking program.

Continuing to drive progress, Chief Oliphant and his team are presently working on numerous projects. These include the development of a cutting-edge training facility, the construction of several new fire stations, and the acquisition of advanced fire apparatus.

Outside of his role as Fire Chief, Chief Oliphant enjoys working with his cattle, traveling and quality time with his family.