Air Vice-Marshal Fin Monahan OBE DFC PhD takes up position as new Chief Fire Officer of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) is pleased to welcome Air Vice-Marshal Fin Monahan OBE DFC PhD as the new Chief Fire Officer (CFO) of the Service, as he takes up his post today.
Fin joins SWFRS after a distinguished and decorated career as a fast jet fighter pilot and senior leader in the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Ministry of Defence (MOD).
Fin’s exceptional qualifications include Masters’ degrees from the University of Nottingham and University of Madras, as well as a PhD in Organisational Culture from the University of Birmingham, awarded in 2018. He is a published writer and a recognised expert in organisational culture, focusing on how to build courage, morale, respect, and cohesion within uniformed organisations.
The selection process for the Chief Fire Officer was rigorous and extensive, with Fin emerging as the clear choice for both stakeholder panels – including staff from all levels and representative bodies – and the four Commissioners for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, who unanimously endorsed his appointment.
The Commissioners commented:
“We are exceptionally pleased that Fin Monahan accepted the position of Chief Fire Officer, and we are truly excited about his appointment.
“Fin joins the Service from a distinguished and decorated career. He stood out at every stage of the incredibly challenging recruitment process as the right person to take SWFRS forward, and we are confident he will do just that.
“As we welcome him into the Service today, we look forward to working together to make SWFRS the very best place it can be for its people, and the communities of south Wales.”
On his appointment, Fin said:
“I am honoured to be entrusted with this important role, and I’m grateful to the staff, unions, stakeholders, and the Commissioners for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service for their confidence in me.
“I would like every staff member, regardless of their role or location, to feel proud of their work, and to join me and the leadership team in rebuilding the Service into an organisation where everyone feels welcome, supported, and safe. That will help us build the cohesion and mutual support needed to fulfil our mission of keeping the 1.5 million citizens of South Wales safe.”
Experience and Leadership for a Changing Landscape
With his extensive background in leadership, organisational culture, and strategic decision-making, Fin brings invaluable experience to SWFRS. His expertise in leading complex, high-stakes teams in both military and civilian environments will be critical as the Service continues to evolve to meet the demands of a growing and diverse community.
On behalf of the Senior Leadership team, Director of Strategic Change and Transformation, Dominic Mika, who has been leading the Service’s Transformation Programme which launched earlier this year, shared his thoughts on this appointment:
“We are really excited to welcome Fin as our new Chief Fire Officer. This appointment is an important moment for the Service. It brings further stability, leadership and direction. I am more than confident that with Fin’s leadership, we will continue to build on the improvements we have made this year as part of the ongoing Transformation Programme.
“This is another step forward for us, as we continue to prioritise operational excellence and an inclusive culture that puts the public first. Together we remain committed to protecting the public and continuing to reduce risk across South Wales.”
As part of his commitment to understanding the unique challenges of SWFRS, Fin will complete the Wales Gold Command (MAGIC) course, which prepares senior leaders to take on major incident roles and engage with other agencies in large-scale emergencies. In addition, he will undergo firefighter training to gain a deeper understanding of the operational challenges faced by frontline staff.
