Andy Roe
{{Short description|Former British Army officer and firefighter (born 1974)}}
{{for|the British general|Andrew Roe}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = Commissioner
| name = Andy Roe
| honorific_suffix = KFSM
| image = Commissioner Andy Roe.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Commissioner Roe being questioned by the London Assembly in 2022
| office = Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade
| term_start = January 2020
| term_end =
| predecessor = Dany Cotton
| successor =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1974|7}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse =
| children =
| education =
| alma_mater = Newcastle University (BA)
| profession = Military officer and firefighter
| website =
| allegiance = United Kingdom
| branch = British Army
| serviceyears = 1996–2000
| rank = Captain
| unit = 12th Regiment Royal Artillery
| commands =
| battles =
}}
Andrew Dudley Roe KFSM (born July 1974{{Cite web |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/c1WPnpXTHhtC8kZd3htn7Reg8O4/appointments |publisher=Companies House |title=Andrew Dudley ROE - Personal Appointments |access-date=12 September 2023}}) is a former British Army officer and firefighter currently serving as the Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-50727812|title=New fire chief appointed after Grenfell row|work=BBC News |date=10 December 2019}}
Early life and education
Andy Roe grew up in London and graduated from Newcastle University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature.{{fact|date=July 2020}}
Career
In 1997, Roe was commissioned from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and joined the 12th Regiment Royal Artillery as a second lieutenant.{{London Gazette |issue=54769 |date=20 May 1997 |page=5901 |supp=y }} During his time as an officer, he served as a troop commander and a battery captain and served two tours in Northern Ireland.{{cite web|url=https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/about-us/meet-london-fire-brigade/andy-roe-commissioner/|title=Andy Roe, Commissioner|website=www.london-fire.gov.uk|access-date=2 April 2020|archive-date=22 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130822095316/http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/SeniorManagementTeam.asp|url-status=dead}} During his time in Northern Ireland, he was wounded when a pipe bomb was thrown at him, which also severely injured an RUC officer stood next to Roe.{{cite news |last1=Mendick |first1=Robert |title=I can't promise another Grenfell won't happen again |work=The Sunday Telegraph |issue=3,154 |date=28 November 2021 |page=14|issn=9976-1874}} The officer died after spending four weeks on a life support machine. As a captain, he transferred his commission to the Army reserve in April 2000.{{London Gazette |issue=55823 |date=18 April 2000 |page=4372 |supp=y }}
In 2002, Roe joined the London Fire Brigade as a firefighter{{cite web|url=https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/grenfell-fire-officer-who-ordered-evacuation-named-new-lfb-chief--64480|title=Grenfell fire officer who ordered evacuation named new LFB chief|website=Inside Housing}} and in January 2017 was appointed as Assistant Commissioner.{{cite web|url=https://www.forces.net/news/former-army-officer-becomes-new-london-fire-chief|title=Former Army Officer Becomes New London Fire Chief|first=11 December 2019|last=at 2:28pm|website=Forces Network}}
During the Grenfell Tower fire, Roe was appointed incident commander where he revoked the controversial 'stay put' advice to the residents.{{cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/andy-roe-grenfell-firefighter-who-revoked-stay-put-policy-is-new-london-fire-brigade-boss-11883030|title=Andy Roe: Grenfell firefighter who revoked 'stay put' policy is new London Fire Brigade boss|website=Sky News}} As the first commissioner appointed since the fire, Roe issued a plea to the residents of London's 7,000 high rise blocks to set aside any 'post-Grenfell doubts continue to follow firefighters’ advice in the event of a blaze.'{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/andy-roe-london-fire-commissioner-grenfell-a4379161.html|title=New London fire chief's first job: to say sorry over Grenfell|date=5 March 2020|website=Evening Standard}}
On 28 January 2020, Roe became the first LFB commissioner to sign the Armed Forces Covenant with the British Armed Forces.{{cite web|url=https://www.fsmatters.com/LFB-sign-covenant-UK-Armed-Forces|title=FSM MAGAZINE - LFB fire commissioner signs covenant with UK Armed Forces|website=www.fsmatters.com}}
Roe was awarded the King's Fire Service Medal (KFSM) in the 2024 New Year Honours.{{citeweb|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/64269/supplement/N40 |publisher=The London Gazette |title=Supplement 64269 |accessdate=29 December 2023}}
Awards and honours
| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto;" | ||
| style="background:silver; text-align:center;"
|Ribbon | Description | Notes |
| 40px | King's Fire Service Medal (KFSM) | * 2024 New Year Honours |
| 40px | General Service Medal (1962) | * For Service in Northern Ireland |
| 40px | Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal | * 2012
|
| 40px | Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal | * 2022
|
| 40px | King Charles III Coronation Medal | * 2023
|
| 40px | Fire and Rescue Service Long Service and Good Conduct Medal | * 2022 |
See also
References
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{{s-bef|before=Dany Cotton}}
{{s-ttl|title=Commissioner of London Fire Brigade|years=2020 – present}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Roe, Andy}}
Category:Commissioners of the London Fire Brigade
Category:Royal Artillery officers
Category:Alumni of Newcastle University
Category:Graduates of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst