JFRD Announces New Operations and Administrative Services Leadership

The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department announces three new appointments to its command staff. Robert Hickson, confirmed by the Jacksonville City Council this evening, will serve as the Division Chief of Operations. Robert Hancock will serve as Deputy Division Chief of Operations, and Colin Aguilar will serve as Deputy Division Chief of Administrative Services.

Division Chief of Operations Robert Hickson is a 28-year veteran of JFRD. Since September of 2025, he has served as the Deputy Chief of Administrative Services, supporting JFRD’s Buildings, Facilities, Fleet Services, Tactical Support, and Logistics services. Before that, he served as a Captain in the Operations Division, leading station operations, managing annual budgets, and overseeing personnel recruitment and development. Hickson has led the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office SWAT Medics since 2015, providing medical coverage for high-risk operations, and is a certified flight paramedic.

He served as a search-and-rescue K-9 specialist with Florida Task Force 1 and 5, deploying nationwide in the wake of disaster, and assisted federal agencies with presidential protection. Chief Hickson holds extensive certifications in emergency operations and incident management.

“Positive outcomes on scene are the result of decisions made well in advance,” said Division Chief of Operations Robert Hickson. “My focus is making sure JFRD operations has already worked out the solution before the call ever comes.”

Deputy Division Chief of Operations Robert Hancock joined JFRD in 2002 and rose through the ranks to District Chief before being appointed to his current position. He is an instructor in hazardous materials, urban search and rescue, and aircraft rescue and firefighting. He has been an instructor at Florida State College at Jacksonville since 2003 and at the JFRD Training Academy since 2018. Chief Hancock holds an associate degree in fire science and says his focus is advancing fire suppression training. Having taught many of the personnel he now oversees, he understands that training is the foundation of a successful response.

Deputy Division Chief of Administrative Services Colin Aguilar joined JFRD in 2003 and was promoted to Captain in 2014, before becoming the Assistant Chief of Logistics for the Emergency Preparedness Division in 2025. A 23-year member of the Technical Rescue Team and Florida Task Force 5, he holds multiple leadership positions with the teams and is a FEMA-credentialed Logistics Section Chief. Chief Aguilar was instrumental in creating the department’s Missing Endangered Person Search and Rescue program and the Mobile Rescue Task Force. He holds an associate degree in Fire Science and says his focus is on ensuring the department’s investments reflect how crews actually work.

“These leaders bring decades of experience to their new roles,” said Director/Fire Chief Percy Golden II. “While many Jacksonville residents may never personally meet the new members of our command staff, they will feel the results of their decisions every time they call JFRD for help. I’m confident in this team and what they will do for our department and our city.”