Our leadership team
Our leadership team comprises our 'Executive Leadership Team' and our 'Senior Leadership Team'. Between them, they're dedicated to guiding the shape and direction of our service and ensuring that we’re meeting our legal responsibilities.
To find out more about leadership team members and their roles and responsibilities, click/tap their bios below.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer
Simon Barry
Executive Leadership Team
Preferred pronouns
He/Him/His
He/Him/His
Professional passions and goals
Simon’s professional passion is ensuring our communities receive an excellent service from West Midlands Fire Service, and that we are doing everything we can to reduce the chance of harm to anybody living/working in or visiting the West Midlands. He aims to create an environment and culture in which colleagues can thrive and be the best version of themselves.
Skill set and experience
Simon is a qualified and experienced Incident Commander, with extensive experience of strategic management in protection and operations.
Professional qualifications or memberships
Degree in Strategic Leadership and Management.
Interests and hobbies
Spending time with his two young daughters and family, cycling and the great outdoors.
Work history
Simon joined WMFS in 2000 as a firefighter at Erdington Community Fire Station, progressing to the middle management position of Station Commander before becoming Operations Commander for Black Country North.
He was seconded to the National Operational Guidance review of Incident Command.
He became Assistant Chief Fire Officer (People Programme) in Nov 2021 and temporary Deputy Chief Fire Office (DCFO) in February 2023. He moved into the role of Assistant Chief Fire Officer and Director for Enabling Services in late August, early September 2023, before being appointed as temporary DCFO in April 2024.