Laurent R. McDonald serves as the Fire Chief for the Town of Oxford, Massachusetts.
Biography
McDonald was born and raised in Southbridge, Massachusetts where he became a member of the Southbridge Auxiliary Fire Department in October 1980. Chief McDonald graduated from Southbridge High School in January 1983 then entered the United States Air Force on March 11th of that same year. Upon completion of Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, where he was an honor graduate, Chief McDonald began the Air Force recruit firefighter training program at Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois.
Career
He served 21 years as an Air Force firefighter and fire officer retiring in February 2004. His last assignment was as the Air Force Fire Protection Career Field Manager assigned to the Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency, Tyndall AFB Florida. In this capacity, he was responsible for the management of all Department of Defense (DoD) fire protection training, education, and certification programs.
Upon retiring from the Air Force in 2004, Chief McDonald was hired as the first full-time Fire Chief for the Town of Dudley, Massachusetts. He went on to serve as the Director of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy from 2006 to 2007. He then served as the Certification Program Manager for the National Fire Protection Association located in Quincy, Massachusetts. While working at NFPA, Chief McDonald served on the Holland, Massachusetts Fire Department as a firefighter and Emergency Management Director. In December 2012, Chief McDonald was appointed the fourth full-time Chief for the Town of Monson, Massachusetts. Chief McDonald was appointed as Oxford's third full-time Fire Chief on November 25, 2019.
Chief McDonald has performed duties as a Fire Fighter, Driver/Operator, Company Officer, Fire Inspector, Assistant Chief For Training, Assistant Chief For Operations, and Deputy Fire Chief. He has served in Engine, Rescue, Aircraft, Ladder, and Haz Mat/Special Operations Companies.
Chief McDonald has served on several International Fire Service Training Association Validation Committees including Company Officer, Chief Fire Officer, and Occupational Safety and Health training manuals. He also authored Chapter 5, of the NFPA's Fire and Life Safety Inspection Manual, 9th Edition.
Certifications
Chief McDonald holds several IFSAC and Proboard fire service certification credentials as well as the Massachusetts Fire Chief Credential. He has an Associate Degree in Fire Science from the Community College of the Air Force, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Fire Service Administration from the University of Maryland, and a Master of Public Administration and Emergency Services Managment from Columbia Southern University.
Family
He is married to the former Celeste Bellerose of Southbridge.