Petersburg, Virginia: Today, Petersburg City Manager has announced the final three candidates for the City’s Fire Chief position. The Fire Chief will lead the Petersburg Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services. Established in 1773, the Petersburg Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services is rich in history and tradition and is proud to call itself one of the country’s oldest organized fire departments. This slate of finalists results from a selection process conducted on the City’s behalf by an executive search firm.
After receiving the recommendations from the executive search firm, a panel individually interviewed five candidates and then narrowed the list down to three. This panel was comprised of representation from the City administration, Petersburg Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services Department, and the Petersburg Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services Department Union. The final three candidates for Chief of the Petersburg Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services Department are Tyson Dickerson, Edward Glassman, and James “Brad” Owens.
“These candidates have the experience and leadership skills to help make the Petersburg Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services Department the best-trained and most-responsive in the Commonwealth of Virginia,” said Petersburg Mayor, Sam Parham. “We are looking for an individual who will value the community they serve and will work collaboratively to develop sound public safety policies and initiatives to move our City forward and make our community safer.”
“I am confident that soon we will have the right person in place to lead the Petersburg Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services Department,” said City Manager, Aretha R. Ferrell-Benavides. The City Manager expects to make a final decision by the end of December.
In alphabetical order, the three finalists for Fire Chief are as follows:
1. Tyson Dickerson, Fire Chief, City of Lexington, VA
Mr. Dickerson has more than 35 years of fire service experience working as a Firefighter Protection Engineer/Inspector, Volunteer Battalion Chief, Section Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Chief of Operations, and is currently the Fire Chief of Lexington, Virginia. Dickerson is experienced with leadership, hazardous materials, fire protection services, training, and management with both small and large fire departments. He has attended and taken coursework in Fire Science and Fire Protection, and Business Management at the University of Maryland, Montgomery College, and the University of Delaware.
2. Edward Glassman, Deputy Fire Chief/Emergency Management Coordinator, City of Camden, NJ
Mr. Glassman has 30 years of fire service experience working as a Firefighter, Fire Captain, and Battalion Fire Chief. He has recently served as the Deputy Fire Chief and Emergency Management Coordinator with the City of Camden Fire Department. Glassman is experienced in leadership and administration in all phases of the fire and emergency services: emergency management, fire protection services, emergency medical services, hazardous materials, special operations, recruitment, hiring, promotional systems, and public education. He holds a Master of Administrative Services from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a Bachelor of Science in Public Safety Administration from Neumann University.
3. James “Brad” Owens, Fire and EMS Director, Prince George County, VA
Mr. Owens has over 20 years of fire experience as a Firefighter, Chief Training Officer/Volunteer Coordinator, and Deputy Director. Most recently, he has served as Fire and EMS Director for Prince George County, Virginia. Owens has experience in all facets of fire services in training, leadership, personnel development, hazardous materials, and emergency management and emergency medical services. He received his Associate of Applied Science in Fire Science from Columbia Southern University and has taken coursework towards a Bachelor of Science in Fire Administration from Columbia Southern University.
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