Lonny Owens, a 28-year veteran of the Lenexa Fire Department, was appointed as the new Fire Chief at Tuesday night’s Lenexa City Council meeting. The Council voted unanimously to accept City Administrator Eric Wade’s recommendation to have Owens lead Lenexa’s Fire Department. Chief Owens was sworn in during last night’s Lenexa City Council meeting.
“I have confidence that Lonny will do an exceptional job leading the Lenexa Fire Department,” said City Administrator Eric Wade. “He is a dedicated public servant and cares deeply about the citizens of Lenexa. He is well respected by the Fire Department staff, other city staff and the City Council. Lonny will lead the effort to maintain the department’s high standards and continue developing the next generation of leaders.”
Owens began his career in public safety in 1987 and during his time with the Lenexa Fire Department served as Fire Battalion Chief, Division Fire Chief of Administration, and as Deputy Fire Chief since 2012. He was named the interim Fire Chief in June 2015 upon the retirement of former Fire Chief Dan Rhodus.
“I'm humbled and honored to accept this appointment to serve and lead one of the best departments in the country,” said Owens. “I look forward to working side by side with other dedicated men and women in the Lenexa Fire Department in the delivery of professional emergency services. I’m eager to continue to build on our strong relationships with other city and community partners.”
Owens graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science from Johnson County Community College and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business and Human Resources from Ottawa University. He is also a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program. This four-year program provides senior fire officers with a broad perspective on various facets of fire and emergency services administration.
Owens is a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Kansas State Fire Chiefs Association and the Heart of America Fire Chiefs Council. He served as the accreditation task force chair for the Heart of America Fire Chiefs Council for the past nine years and as an international peer assessor for the Commission on Fire Accreditation. Owens is a fire instructor, a swift water rescue technician and a Kansas emergency medical technician. He was awarded Chief Fire Officer designation by the Center for Public Safety Excellence, which recognizes fire officers who have demonstrated excellence and outstanding achievement throughout their career.
Former Fire Chief Rhodus said, “The appointment of Lonny Owens to Fire Chief is great news for the City of Lenexa! Chief Owens is a remarkable leader and a tremendous defender of our city's values. Lenexa has exciting challenges ahead, and Chief Owens has the skills, vision and leadership strength to ensure citizens continue to receive the excellent service they expect. As the city continues to grow, the Fire Department will certainly be ahead of any challenges growth creates under Chief Owens' command.”
In his new position, Owens will be leading 85 of the top fire professionals in the region. Lenexa is one of only 20 departments in the United States that is both accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International and has an Insurance Service Office public protection class rating of 1.