Director of Commerce Gary C. Suhadolnik has appointed Robert R. Rielage as State Fire Marshal. This appointment became effective on Monday, April 26, 1999.

As the new State Fire Marshal, Rielage manages the office responsible for: designing and presenting fire prevention programs; analyzing fire-related criminal evidence; modernizing and enforcing the Ohio Fire Code; investigating the cause and origin of fires and explosions; and training firefighters. The State Fire Marshal's office also houses the Bureau of Underground Storage Tank Regulations.

"Robert Rielage's extensive experience in the fire service will be a great asset to the Division of State Fire Marshal," said Director Suhadolnik.

Before his appointment, Rielage served on the Colerain Township Department of Fire, Emergency Medical Service as Assistant Chief/Director of both the customer service and personnel divisions.

Rielage has held other professional positions in the fire service and also had many articles published in Fire Chief Magazine and Fire Services Today. Some positions he has held include: member of the National Fire Prevention Association's (NFPA), Fire Service Administrative Risk Management Committee and member of the Standard on Development of Fire Protection Service for the Public. Among Marshal Rielage's education background is a master's degree in Public Administration from Norwich University and graduate studies at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University as the 1995 recipient of the NFPA's Harvard Fellowship.

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