Steve Thomson - Anderson

Steve Thomson-Anderson is a retired Tactical Level Officer and former manager of the Training and Development Centre at Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service (OFRS). With over 25 years of Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) experience since 1995, he has held diverse roles in operational and learning and development.

Steve began his career with Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue Service at a water rescue station. In 2001, he joined OFRS, serving operationally across the city stations for 10 years before becoming a Fire Safety Inspector. Later, as Operational Policy and Procedure Manager, he contributed to creating and implementing tactical operational guidance adopted by 26 Fire & Rescue Services, which later evolved into the National Occupational Guidance program.

He has served as Station Commander at Wholetime and On-Call stations, managing Mass Decontamination, Detection Identification Monitoring, and High-Volume Pump units. As Training Centre Manager, Steve developed and delivered training for firefighters and officers working with partners to create new courses in areas such as Breathing Apparatus, Tactical Firefighting, Hazmat, Water Rescue and also Incident Command scenarios at the Fire Service College to enable practical assessment of Officers and crews.

Steve holds various specialist qualifications, including Flood & Water Incident Management and Hazardous Materials Environmental Protection Advisor. In his final role before retirement, he was Emergency Response Manager, overseeing operational assurance, incident briefings, and multi-agency exercises.

Since April 2022, Steve has been an associate with KLA, helping to assess and develop fire service commanders. He has also undertaken overseas contracts, including completing a Hazardous Materials and Dangerous Goods capability study in the Occupied Territories and supporting the UK Government British Support Team as a Training Advisor to Civil Defence.