Director of Commerce Donna Owens has appointed Rob Patchen as Chief of the Bureau of Underground Storage Tank Regulation (BUSTR), Daniel Lehman as Chief of Auditing and Tracking and Michael Kraft as Chief of Technical Services. They recently assumed their new positions.

“I am pleased to add these three talented individuals to the Department of Commerce’s management team,” Director Owens said. “With their impressive credentials and experience, I am confident that they will effectively serve our department and the citizens of Ohio.”

Prior to his appointment as BUSTR Chief, Mr. Patchen served for two years as the Division of Industrial Compliance's Legal Counsel. In this position, he provided legal advice to the Superintendent of Industrial Compliance. He also coordinated regulatory enforcement actions and reviewed all legal matters pending the division. Prior to joining the Division of Industrial Compliance, Mr. Patchen served as an Assistant Attorney General for 9 years as a trial counsel for the Department of Industrial Relations, legal counsel for various State of Ohio boards and commissions, and in-house and trial counsel for the Bureau of Underground Storage Tank Regulation.

Mr. Patchen earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Toledo College of Law, and he received his bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame.

Mr. Lehman now serves as Chief of Auditing and Tracking for the State Fire Marshal after serving as Assistant Chief of the Fire Marshal's Inspection Bureau for five years. In his new position, Mr. Lehman is responsible for administering a statewide audit program of inspections performed by State Fire Safety Inspectors and Certified Underground Storage Tank Inspectors to insure compliance with the Ohio Revised Code, Ohio Administrative Code and the Ohio Fire Code.

Mr. Lehman attended Hocking Technical Institute.

Mr. Kraft takes on the role of Chief of Technical Services for the State Fire Marshal. He is responsible for administering a statewide enforcement program of the Ohio Fire Code and Ohio Revised Code. He also directs division implementation of legislative mandates and coordinates policy and procedure for the Fire Marshal. Prior to his assuming his new position, Kraft served as Assistant Chief of Code Enforcement for 2 years.

Mr. Kraft earned his bachelor's degree from the Ohio State University and also attended the University of Cincinnati.

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1998 marks the 20th anniversary of the dedication of the Ohio Fire Academy. Since 1978, more than 200,000 fire service, emergency response and related personnel have participated in over 12,000 programs offered through the Ohio Fire Academy. State Fire Marshal James J. McNamee, in reviewing the Academy's accomplishments over the past 20 years, points out that, "By being in the forefront of fire training and education, the Academy provides Ohio's fire service and other emergency responders with the best training available and enhances their capabilities to serve the citizens of Ohio."

The Division of State Fire Marshal is part of the Ohio Department of Commerce. The Fire Marshal's Office trains firefighters, enforces the Ohio Fire Code, investigates the cause and origins of fires and explosions, provides fire prevention programs and performs other services. Additionally, the Ohio Department of Commerce regulates financial institutions, securities, industrial compliance, unclaimed funds, and real estate, along with other industries. The former Department of Liquor Control joined the Department on July 1, 1997, as the Division of Liquor Control. The department's internet address is www.com.state.oh.us.