London Fire Deputy Commissioner, Rita Dexter has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list published today (Saturday 15 June).
Rita was awarded the medal for her distinguished contribution to local government and the fire and rescue service over the last 35 years.
London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson said:
“I am delighted that Rita has been recognised for all of her hard work in local government and especially pleased to celebrate her achievements over the last 13 years here at the London Fire Brigade. Rita thoroughly deserves this award having played a significant role in the modernisation of the fire and rescue service, both in London and at a national level.”
Rita Dexter, 51 joined the Brigade as Director of Corporate Services in 2001, where she was responsible for legal and democratic services, communications, strategy and performance and Information Technology. She was promoted to Deputy Commissioner in November 2009.
She began her local authority career, aged 16, as a junior clerk in 1979 at Birmingham City Council. She then moved on to work at the Department of the Environment, where she specialised in the powers and duties of local authorities.
In 1995 she joined Barnet Council where she spent six years. She left Barnet Council as the Deputy Chief Executive to join the Brigade.