Homeland Security Director For Baltimore County Retires

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Jay Ringgold, Baltimore County's director of homeland security and emergency management, has retired after almost 35 years of service with the Baltimore County Fire Department. The HSEM directorship is the second-highest rank in BCoFD, equivalent to assistant chief.

Ringgold joined the Baltimore County Fire Department in 1985. During his tenure, he was assigned to stations in Brooklandville, Catonsville, Eastview and Essex. In 2003, he was one of two firefighters trapped in rubble following a natural gas explosion on Chalcot Square in Essex. The fire chief at that time, John J. Hohman, said it was "a miracle" that the two firefighters survived.

The Baltimore County Fire Department commendations board awarded Ringgold the Purple Heart and the Silver Star, the department's second highest award, for his role in that incident. Ringgold also has been actively involved in emergency management operations, including management of the emergency operations center, since 2006. In January 2019, he was appointed the county's director of emergency management by Gov. Larry Hogan.

While Ringgold has stepped down, others within the department have received promotions. Baltimore County Fire Chief Joanne R. Rund recently announced the following promotions to the rank of fire apparatus driver/operator (FADO) effective Sept. 26.

The newly promoted members are:

• Fire Specialist Shane Sierakowski
• EMT/FF Matthew Malczewski
• EMT/FF Jose Munoz
• EMT/FF William Ratcliffe
• EMT/FF Matthew B. Schultz