The Fort Myers Fire Department has announced the appointment of Fire Chief Kenny Dobson to the Regional Domestic Security Task Force to serve as the fire co-chair. Dobson fills the vacancy left by San Carlos Park Fire Department Chief Nat Ippolito.

The Regional Domestic Security Task Force is made up of a 10-county region covering Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, Collier, Desoto, Glades, Okeechobee, Highlands and Hendry counties. The task force was formed in September 2001 after the terrorist attacks on our country.

The RDSTF incorporates fire, law enforcement, medical, emergency management and public information.

As fire co-chair, Dobson will attend the quarterly meetings of RDSTF and will be actively involved in the funding and operation of the HazMat, urban search and rescue, and technical rescue teams. In addition, he will also be in charge of managing all fire domestic security assets.

Dobson has worked almost 20 years with the Fort Myers Fire Department, serving the last three years as fire chief.