Tony Campbell Settling In As Ohio County Emergency Management Director
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WHEELING -- Ohio County Emergency Management Agency Director Tony Campbell is completing his first month on the job, but he is no stranger to public service.
Campbell, 68, brings more than 40 years of first responder experience to the position, serving first as a Wheeling police officer for 11 years before spending 32 years with the Wheeling Fire Department.
For the past five years, he served as assistant director of the Ohio County Emergency Management Agency under recently retired Director Lou Vargo.
Despite his decades of experience, Campbell acknowledged there is still a learning curve in his new role.
“There were some things I didn’t fully understand, but I’m getting a better handle on them now,” he said. “Everything is good.
“Fortunately, we didn’t have any bad weather earlier this week to make it worse for me. That was a good thing. Everything has been good so far.”
Campbell served with the Wheeling Police Department from 1978 to 1989. He joined the Wheeling Fire Department in 1989, where he worked as a paramedic and squad training officer before becoming a lieutenant in the investigations division. He later served as chief investigator and eventually assistant fire chief.
After retiring from the fire department in 2021, Campbell immediately joined the Ohio County Emergency Management Agency as assistant director. He became director following Vargo’s retirement on June 30.
Campbell acknowledged it is uncommon for someone to serve both as a police officer and firefighter in Wheeling.
“There are probably three or four other guys who have done that,” he said. “There are a couple of firemen who went on to the police department, as well.”
Campbell said his experience in both law enforcement and fire and emergency services has been invaluable in his emergency management role.
“I understand all the aspects of emergency response and have worked closely with law enforcement as far as active shooters go,” he said. “It was a good experience for me. It made me a well-rounded individual.
“I understand all the aspects of emergencies and emergency response because of my past experience. It has been a big ‘up’ for me.”
Campbell said his interest in emergency management developed while serving on the fire department.
“When I was on the fire department, we had several assistant chiefs who were part-time emergency management for the city and the county, and I admired the work they did,” he said. “I had great relationships with them, and we talked often about what that job entailed. It gave me a little bit of background before I took the position.”
Campbell said he and Vargo have known each other for years and continue to speak regularly.
Looking ahead, Campbell hopes to secure funding for an early warning system on local creeks that would include rain gauges and sirens.
He also plans to improve cybersecurity and update security camera systems throughout the community.
“It has been a pleasure doing this my whole life,” Campbell said. “My whole life has been public service, and I’m going to continue to be a public servant. I started doing it when I was young, and I’m going to continue doing it until I’m not able to do it anymore.”