# Christopher James Gannon

Christopher James Gannon (born 13 May 1969) is a globally recognized figure in the fire service and emergency management industry and a former international footballer.

## Early life

Gannon was born in Westminster, London and grew up in Chelsea before moving to Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire. He was the founder and first Chief Fire Officer of the Turks and Caicos Islands in the British West Indies and is an adviser on emergency service reform and disaster management to many governments. He later established his own company to improve Fire Departments worldwide.

## Professional life

Gannon is a renowned fire, rescue and disaster management expert. He has gained a reputation for reforming and improving emergency organisations in over 40 countries. Having begun his career in the Fire and Rescue Service in Great Britain, Gannon was later recruited by the British Government (FCO) to conduct a liability assessment of emergency services in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), a UK protectorate in the Caribbean. As a result of the findings, and at just 34 years of age, he was commissioned as the first national Chief Fire Officer with a mandate to design, build and manage fire and rescue services from concept to completion.
He was later given the added responsibility of managing fire services at the 6 national and international airports to meet ICAO standards. He was the British Government Fire Service adviser for the UK Overseas Territories between 2002–2009 and formed part of the FCO Disaster Management Review Team. He also gained accreditation from the United Nations (OCHA) as a disaster and emergency management specialist and has responded to many major natural disasters around the world. After 6 years in the Turks and Caicos he was recruited by a private company to build and manage municipal and airport fire services for the exclusive private island of Ambergris Cay.
The celebrated U.S publication 'Fire Chief Magazine' published an article on his work in 2008, entitled 'Fires Mercenary' which led to numerous projects in the Caribbean and Latin America. He was decorated for his work in Bolivia by President Evo Morales.
In 2009 he founded 'Gannon Emergency Solutions' with offices in London, the United States, South America and Thailand providing specialist Fire Service reviews for Governments, NGO's, private companies and institutions. Currently Gannon is working with authorities in Thailand to improve emergency preparedness at historical sites including the world famous temples of Wat Arun, Wat Pho and Wat Molilokkayaram in Bangkok. https://apfmag.com/thailand-gannon-emergency-solutions/
When asked to describe his methodology, Gannon states; "Unlike most consultants in the industry, I haven't retired from one state or national organization and don't simply repeat what was learned during that career. Clients get someone who brings unique global experience and best practices to the table".
In 2019 Gannon led the coordination of international aid in response to the Bolivian Amazonic wildfires Embajada británica se solidariza por los incendios y brinda apoyo con dos expertos. In 2021 he reviewed Emergency Preparedness in the world famous town of Jackson Hole in Teton County Report highlights Fire/EMS shortcomings He published a scathing report on the management of Apopka FD in Florida following the death of Firefighter Austin Duran in 2023. https://theapopkavoice.com/stories/independent-report-on-apopka-fire-department-is-withering-rebuke,32674
Most recently, he was retained by Pulaski County, Virginia to create a first career fire department and help reshape their EMS system. https://pcpatriot.com/change-agent-selected-by-county/
Gannon regularly speaks and appears at industry events and is a regular contributor to forums and publications International Fire Fighter – International Fire Fighter Magazine is the leading global publication for municipal and industrial fire fighters and the fire and rescue industry.

## Football career
### Club

Gannon attended the Sir Frederic Osborn school in Welwyn Garden City and was a teammate of former England international goalkeeper, David James. He represented Huntingdonshire, Cambridgeshire, Fulham, Queens Park Rangers, and Stevenage Borough at schoolboy level, but after failing to gain a professional contract spent his UK playing career in the semi professional divisions of the Isthmian, Jewson and United Counties Leagues. He also latterly played in the Peterborough Premier League winning titles with both Molins FC and Pearl Assurance FC.

### International

While working in the Turks and Caicos Islands, Gannon was selected to represent the country as a central defender in their FIFA World Cup qualification campaigns in 2004 and 2008,
An article published by Bloomberg said that the players had to raise finance for their own travel fees for away games. Gannon later stated that the Turks and Caicos Islands FA were 'strongly encouraged' by FIFA and CONCACAF to field an almost entirely expatriate team in World Cup qualifying games to justify receipt of funds from the FIFA "Goal" programme.
* CFO Chris Gannon
* Fire Chief Chris Gannon
* Chris Gannon Meets President Morales