Bill Raison has over 35 years in public service. He began his career path in 1986 as support staff in a foreign counterintelligence unit at FBI headquarters in Washington DC. In 1991 he joined the Portsmouth Fire Department and rose through the ranks where he served as a firefighter, ladder company officer, code enforcement officer and fire/arson investigator. Bill also served as a terrorism liaison officer for Ohio Homeland Security and as a regional coordinator for Ohio’s Fire Emergency Response plan. In 2008 Bill was promoted to Chief of the department.  During his tenure as Chief, he successfully implemented a variety of initiatives which included: expanding the mission of the department to include fire-based EMS, improved/expanded technical rescue capabilities and new hiring standards. He also implemented a tactical medic program where he served as an active team member and worked closely with police SWAT to fully integrate tactical medical providors.  He also served as a medic and Special Deputy US Marshal for a regional fugitive apprehension team. He retired in April 2022.

Bill holds a B.S. in Business (Healthcare Administration) from Shawnee State University as well as certifications as a level 2 firefighter, fire instructor, fire safety inspector and Advanced EMT. Bill also teaches tactical medicine with Tri-Med Tactical through the Ohio Fire Academy and has guest lectured on crisis leadership at The Ohio State University. In his spare time Bill coaches track and cross country at his local high school and does consulting in strategic planning and emergency response/preparedness. He also works with a faith-based mission organization in Honduras to improve emergency response capabilities in local communities there.