Editor's Opinion

Editor’s Opinion is a compilation of columns Bobby Halton wrote for Fire Engineering magazine. Bobby penned the column for 18 years while serving as editor in chief and education director for FDIC. In his 18-year run as editor, he was given a platform to serve out his final years as an advocate and voice for the fire service. He worked relentlessly to ensure those with the same passion and skill were given an opportunity to contribute through training classes at FDIC and in the pages of the magazine and online. He always advocated for the fire service as a whole but constantly reminded us of the importance of the everyday, common firefighter whose boots were on the ground.

Chief (Ret.) Bobby Halton was a native New Yorker whose family had deep roots in the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) and the New York City Police Department. He was named editor in chief of Fire Engineering and education director of FDIC International in 2005. He began his career in structural firefighting with the Albuquerque (NM) Fire Department in 1984, attained national registry as a paramedic, was chief of training, and rose to the rank of chief of operations until his retirement from that department in 2004. He then became chief of the Coppell (TX) Fire Department. Halton was a graduate of the University of New Mexico. He retired as a member in good standing with the International Association of Fire Fighters, was a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and served on several National Fire Protection Association technical committees. He was active with the National Fallen Firefighters Life Safety Initiatives and served on both the Fire Engineering and FDIC advisory boards prior to taking the reins. A major proponent of firefighter cancer awareness and screening, he worked closely with the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, and he also championed the Courage and Valor Foundation, an organization that honored the life and legacy of fallen FDNY Deputy Chief Ray Downey.