District Chief Ben Klaene retired from the Cincinnati Fire Department after 30 years of service. Klaene taught fire science courses at the University of Cincinnati for'27 years. He served as an adjunct instructor and subject matter expert at the National Fire Academy where he also assisted in revising courses in the Degrees at a Distance program. He also worked extensively as a fire safety consultant in the area of training industrial fire brigades and surveying community fire protection. Klaene served as a subject matter expert during the NIST high-rise fire-ground field experiments. Before his retirement as the Training & Safety Chief of the Cincinnati Fire Department, he rose through the ranks to fire apparatus operator, lieutenant, captain, and district chief. Chief Klaene’s 30 years of experience included working as a firefighter and company officer on engine, truck, and heavy rescue companies. He was also a graduate of the first paramedic class in Cincinnati where he functioned as paramedic supervisor. He holds an Associate Degree in Fire Science, a Bachelor of Science in Fire and Industrial Safety, and a Masters in Education from the University of Cincinnati. He is also a graduate of the U.S. National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer program. Assistant Fire Chief Thomas Lakamp is a 32-year veteran of the'Cincinnati Fire Department. Lakamp is responsible for the operations division, which oversees all fire, special operations, and emergency medical services delivery for the City of Cincinnati. Prior to assignment as the operations division assistant chief, Lakamp was assigned to the human resources division where he managed the training, risk management, and disciplinary issues for the department. As a district chief, Lakamp served as the department’s first special operations chief, managing the department’s'response to technical rescue, hazardous materials, bomb squad, and the city’s municipal airport response. Lakamp has also served as'a district chief in Fire District 4 on the city’s east side for 4 years and the training chief for 7 years. Lakamp holds an associate degree in fire science technology and a bachelor of science degree from the University of Cincinnati,'where he is an adjunct instructor in fire tactics. Lakamp also holds a master’s degree in homeland security from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. Lakamp is a graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer program and was formerly a task force leader for FEMA'Ohio Task Force 1-Urban Search and Rescue team. He is currently the commissioner for the Hamilton County, Ohio-Region Six USAR team.
