First Response: Honoring a Career in the Fire Service

“He is the model of an honorable public servant who has continued to educate himself and deliver value to Ohio and the nation’s citizenry,” said Glenn College Dean Trevor Brown, who presented the award at the college’s spring pre-commencement ceremony.

The John Glenn Outstanding Public Service Award recognizes career contributions to public service and is presented annually to individuals who have distinguished themselves through service to the state of Ohio, their community or a philanthropic mission. 

Reardon, a Glenn College graduate, began his career in the fire service as a member of the Columbus Division of Fire Recruit Class of March 16, 1981. He was assigned to various Ladder Companies and Engine Companies as well as safety officer and command officer assignments, retiring after an almost 33-year career.

Following retirement as a battalion chief, Reardon served nearly six years as the director of the Institute for Public Service and Safety at the Central Ohio Technical College and was appointed to serve as Ohio’s 39th state fire marshal in June 2020. 

He was a volunteer and past chairman of the Homeless Families Foundation Board of Trustees and a member of the Glenn College Alumni Society, where he mentored graduate students.

He has shared his expertise on intelligence, emergency preparedness and response planning for 10 years as then-U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine’s military and veterans’ affairs liaison and, following 9/11, focused entirely on homeland security policy issues. He also served as a consultant for the National Security Division at Battelle, vice chair of the Ohio Homeland Security Advisory Council and director of emergency services for the American Red Cross. Reardon also served on the Ohio Board of Building Standards.

Once a field medic and helicopter crew chief with the Ohio Army National Guard, Reardon early in his career recognized the need for advanced training and education and received an associate of science degree in fire science management from Columbus Technical Institute and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration from Capital University. He also earned master’s degrees in national security studies from American Military University and in public policy and management from the Glenn College. In addition, Reardon completed resident and off-campus training courses from FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security.