Bob Horton is the CEO/Fire Chief for a special district in Southern Oregon. Jackson County Fire District 3 serves a population of 54,000 residents dispersed over 167 square miles the beautiful Rogue Valley. Chief Horton was appointed Fire Chief in 2017 and had previously served as the Assistant Fire Chief for Las Vegas Fire & Rescue where he started as a Firefighter in October of 2000. Chief Horton has served in various positions and on numerous committees in his 20-year public safety career. His leadership and direction has led to advancements in community risk reduction, EMS service delivery, improved operations in the 911 center, as well as numerous employee health and wellness programs.
In addition to his role as Fire Chief, Bob has been elected to serve as a Board Director for the Oregon Fire Chiefs’ Association and Western Fire Chiefs’ Association, appointed as the Vice-Chief of the WFCA’s Wildfire Policy Committee and serves on the IAFC’s Communications Committee. In the local community, Bob is a member of the Central Point Rotary Club.
Bob has earned an MPA from the University of Oklahoma and an Executive Certificate in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School. Bob is a Certified Public Manager, a Six Sigma Green Belt, is recognized by the Center for Public Safety Excellence with both the Chief Fire Officer and Chief EMS Officer designations, and is a graduate of the IAFC’s Fire Service Executive Development Institute (COHORT VII). Bob has studied leadership at the Disney Institute and the Harvard Kennedy School and currently studies public policy at Oregon State University. His research interests include behavioral economics, collaborative networks, applied research methods, and public policy.
In his spare time, Bob and his wife Jennie like to travel, hike, obstacle race, golf, and relax by taking in the local wineries and music scene. Bob and Jennie also host the podcast Assuming Command, where they interview thought leaders, innovators, and influencers in public service. They live in Central Point, Oregon with their two dogs Stella and Stanley.