Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Certification
Languages
Timeline
OperationsManager

Ralph Johnson

El Paso,United States

Summary

Forward-thinking team leader skilled at operating departments efficiently to meet goals. Successful background matching employees with roles for maximum performance. Proactive and hardworking individual focused on continuous operational improvement.

Experienced Fire Chief offering extensive list of successes building and leading talented teams in training, drills and high-danger emergency events. Highly committed to safety and continuous provision of quality emergency response. Equipped with strong background overseeing group efforts across diverse facilities ranging in size and complexity.

Overview

39
39
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Operations Manager

ICON Custom Homes
04.2023 - Current
  • I was hired due to my management capabilities and to oversee the field operations, accounting department, warranty department and closing department
  • I have to ensure deadlines are kept from the time the home is released to the field for construction until the home closes with the home buyer
  • I interface with several building inspection departments throughout the county and into New Mexico; each city having their own set of codes enforcement departments with varying requirements
  • Act as liaison between the company itself and buyers and perspective buyers
  • When there is conflict between any of the departments I oversee, I intervene and manage the issue at hand, always with the client in mind
  • Quality is of extreme importance to ICON and to ensure it never diminishes, I also oversee our quality control and customer care advocate positions
  • Again, I was not hired to build homes but rather handle the management portion of the build process and the persons within those departments

Fire Chief

HF Sinclair
12.2021 - 04.2023
  • I was hired to perform the duties of Fire Chief for the Navajo Refining operations in Artesia, NM as well as Lovington, NM
  • Two facilities 60 miles apart with a throughput of roughly 125,000 bpd
  • I oversaw all emergency response activities to include training, response, equipment and personnel that were involved
  • I also oversaw security as part of my daily duties
  • Responded to numerous medical emergencies, HazMat operations, spill and pressure fires and numerous stand bys when hazardous operations were being undertaken
  • Responsible for the upkeep of the emergency response plan for the facility as well as all interactions with two LEPC’s (each facility was in a different county) and all local responders, both paid and volunteer
  • Interfaced with and developed response plans with local hospital due to the fact the facility in Artesia utilized Hydrofluoric Acid in the refining process and medical response and capabilities were limited in such a small community
  • Conducted area training with them and mock incidents
  • I was tasked with being Incident Commander on all real emergencies as well as all training evolutions undertaken
  • Responsible for attending all fire schools held at TEEX when our personnel attended
  • I ensured and conducted all after action reports for any and all incidents
  • I worked with refinery leadership to develop and implement an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and procedures for it’s activation and operation
  • Trained those who would have a role in the EOC to insure they were familiar, and comfortable, with their roles and responsibilities
  • Direct supervisor was Greg Pinto at facility, and it is OK to contact

Contract Coordinator-Chief of Fire

Rural Metro (Kurtz) Industrial Fire Services
02.2014 - 08.2021
  • I was hired to oversee the new operation that Kurtz Industrial Fire Services had just been contracted for with Western Refining
  • Western Refining contracted Kurtz to bring in a 24-hour emergency services program to the refinery to provide Fire, EMS, Haz Mat and special rescue services, etc
  • The Project is new and I had to, with guidance from Western Refining, set up the program to include 3 separate 24 hour shifts with competent and certified personnel to handle all emergency and non-emergency duties to include: all emergency responses, training of personnel in emergency responses, development of emergency plans, assist with the Emergency Operations Center of Western Refining and work as the Liaison between Western and Kurtz
  • Developed and provided training to the Emergency Response Team members on a weekly basis
  • The program continues to grow and the challenges continue as well
  • Supervisor: Matt Hiett (915-775-3296)
  • Okay to contact this Supervisor: Yes

Chief of Fire Safety and Operations

Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo Indian Reservation
07.2011 - 02.2014
  • I was hired by the Tribe to begin the process of developing a fire department for the reservation as well as develop a fire prevention program as well
  • I was successful in gaining an Assistance to Firefighters Grant for the tribe and this was the first step in gaining funding for training and providing personal protective equipment for the new volunteers we were to develop
  • Worked closely with the City of El Paso Fire Department to gain a used Fire Truck as that would be our first and primary emergency response vehicle for the pueblo
  • Worked closely with federal partners as well to gain other used equipment to try and avoid costing the pueblo too much of their financial resources to fund the department
  • Worked closely with the Tribal Police Department and the Tribal Office of Emergency Management on all emergency planning and the institution of NIMS and operating under the Incident Command System for all emergency incidents as well as planned events
  • Was successful in getting a fire station (modular in nature) donated to the pueblo and delivered and set up
  • I was in charge of the 'Communications' committee we developed to oversee the 1.5 million dollar communication system we were successful in obtaining through homeland security grant opportunities and saw the project from identifying vendors to the implementation and operation of the system itself
  • Supervisor: Chief Candelaria (915-859-7715)
  • Okay to contact this Supervisor: Yes

Fire Deputy Chief-Emergency Mgmt. Coordinator

City of El Paso Fire Department
01.2009 - 06.2011
  • During this time as the Emergency Management Coordinator for the City and the County of El Paso, Texas I have overseen the Emergency Operations Plan for our community (which includes 4 smaller cities within the County of El Paso as well)
  • I oversee the preparedness and planning efforts in our community
  • Work very closely with all first responder agencies, paid and volunteer, to ensure our response to emergencies and disasters is efficient, safe and effective
  • Coordinate recovery efforts to disasters with affected members of the community
  • Assist public works departments in their mitigation efforts to prevent future issues due to natural events such as flooding, wind, ice storms, etc
  • Interface with volunteer organizations as well as the private sector to partner with for those times their assistance and expertise shall be needed
  • Interface with elected officials to insure they understand their roles during times of emergency as well
  • Our office has it's own budget which is augmented by three funding streams; EMPG, City of El Paso funds and County of El Paso funds; I was tasked with the oversight of the budget on an annual basis as well
  • I was also the designated POC for all Homeland Security Grant Programs (HSGP) the City of El Paso is involved in to include MMRS, UASI and SHSP
  • I oversee the budgets of all HSGP and insure procurement policies are followed, State Administrative Agency rules and timelines are met, reports are generated and forwarded as prescribed by grant guidance, etc
  • And finally, I oversaw the extreme freeze the community experienced in February of 2011
  • It was a week long activation of our Emergency Operations Center in which all departments with both the City of El Paso and County of El Paso, to include the State of Texas, were involved with and working together to insure our community could face the issues with losing electrical power, water and natural gas to both its residents and business'
  • Supervisor: Fire Chief Roberto Rivera (915-771-1000)
  • Okay to contact this Supervisor: Yes

Battalion Chief

City of El Paso Fire Department
02.2002 - 01.2009
  • During my tenure as Battalion Chief, I was assigned two different duties/assignments; one was in the Operations Division where I was assigned to the Central part of the City of El Paso
  • I oversaw 35 firefighters, 7 fire stations to include the Airport Rescue and Firefighter station
  • Had responsibility as Incident Commander on any and all incidents within the 30 square mile area that was under my command
  • Insured my personnel had all certifications up to standard and up to date, all their training was current, performance evaluations were current, annual requirements were met to include physicals, evaluations, testing processes, etc
  • The Second duty/assignment I had during this time frame was the Office of Emergency Management
  • I was called in to act as either the Emergency Management Coordinator (EMC) or the Assistant EMC, for a combined total of over 3 years
  • During this time the City of El Paso experienced a federally declared disaster due to a 500-year flood
  • I acted as Incident Commander at various times during this incident both in the Emergency Operations Center as well as in the field, dealing with the disaster
  • The City of El Paso also was an active partner during Katrina and Rita
  • With Katrina we opened up a large shelter for over 800 New Orleans evacuees; I was the Incident Commander of this operation as well
  • We also opened up several 'Special Needs' shelters for evacuees of Rita
  • I operated in the Operations Branch during this event and assisted in the repatriation efforts of these individuals and families after their hometowns were able to accept them back
  • Supervisor: Chief Mike Widtfeldt (915-771-1000)
  • Okay to contact this Supervisor: Yes

Firefighter through Fire Captain

City of El Paso Fire Department
09.1985 - 02.2002
  • I began my career with the El Paso Fire Department in September of 1985 as a trainee
  • During the time from September 1985 through February 2002 I worked in the ranks of Firefighter, Fire Suppression Technician (Driver), Fire Lieutenant and Fire Captain spending approximately a little over 4 years in each rank
  • During those 17 years I worked in every fire station the City of El Paso had open in the operations division
  • I responded to emergency calls of every size, complexity, type, location, etc
  • Imaginable
  • I operated in every element of the Incident Command System structure from Incident Commander down to a resource in the Operations Branch
  • I also worked in the Communications Division (911 call and dispatch center) for over 1 year
  • I was assigned to the Hazardous Materials Response Team as the Captain and I was charged with developing the team from it's 'Task Force' type response to a single company with support from other divisions
  • I developed the system, and it is still in usage today with the department
  • I was assigned as the House Captain at Central Fire Station and oversaw the building itself as well as all the apparatus assigned to the station
  • I was the Liaison with all visitors and other agencies that had business with the El Paso Fire Department when they visited Central Station
  • Oversaw all supplies and equipment assigned to the station and insured they were utilized in a manner that was both economically sound and all persons and did so in a safe and efficient manner
  • Supervisor: Assistant Fire Chief Don Johnson (915-771-1000)
  • Okay to contact this Supervisor: Yes

Education

High School Diploma -

Ysleta High School
El Paso, TX

Fire Services Administration/Emergency Management

El Paso Community College
El Paso, TX

National Fire Academy

Skills

  • Strategic Problem Resolution
  • MS office
  • Operations management
  • KPI tracking
  • Decision-making
  • Employee motivation
  • Operations oversight
  • Client relationships
  • Team leadership
  • Staff management
  • Performance evaluations
  • Planning and implementation
  • Management
  • Organizational management
  • Project leadership
  • Employee relations and conflict resolution
  • Staff training
  • Delegation
  • Conflict mediation
  • Interpersonal communication
  • Staff development
  • Contract management
  • Workforce management
  • Multidisciplinary collaboration
  • Health and safety compliance

Accomplishments

  • Used Microsoft Excel to develop inventory tracking spreadsheets.
  • Supervised team of 12 staff members while developing new response procedures for refinery at start of contract emergency response program.
  • Documented and resolved lack of inventory of emergency response equipment which led to complete understanding of our status and weaknesses we needed to correct.
  • Collaborated with team of 15 in the development of UASI working group which was developed in order to manage Homeland Security Grant Programs/funding.

Certification

  • Hazardous Materials Technician
  • Emergency Medical Technician
  • Fire Investigator
  • Fire Instructor
  • 1081 type Industrial Fire Training
  • Emergency Management courses
  • NIMS ICS courses
  • Train the Trainer courses

Languages

English
Full Professional
Spanish
Limited Working

Timeline

Operations Manager

ICON Custom Homes
04.2023 - Current

Fire Chief

HF Sinclair
12.2021 - 04.2023

Contract Coordinator-Chief of Fire

Rural Metro (Kurtz) Industrial Fire Services
02.2014 - 08.2021

Chief of Fire Safety and Operations

Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo Indian Reservation
07.2011 - 02.2014

Fire Deputy Chief-Emergency Mgmt. Coordinator

City of El Paso Fire Department
01.2009 - 06.2011

Battalion Chief

City of El Paso Fire Department
02.2002 - 01.2009

Firefighter through Fire Captain

City of El Paso Fire Department
09.1985 - 02.2002

Fire Services Administration/Emergency Management

El Paso Community College

National Fire Academy

High School Diploma -

Ysleta High School

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