In Shreveport, LA Brian Crawford was named today as chief of the department.
Crawford, who has been the Fire Department’s primary public spokesman for the past several years, was selected today by Mayor Cedric Glover.
Crawford, a 24-year veteran, will be promoted from the post of assistant to the fire chief.
Crawford lives in Bossier Parish but said during the interview process that he would move to Shreveport if he is selected as chief, mayoral spokeswoman Gwen Campbell said.
Glover had narrowed his choice down to five finalists from 26 applicants. All five were members of the Shreveport Fire Department.
Crawford, 44, succeeds Kelvin Cochran, who retired at the end of last year to become fire chief in Atlanta. Interim Fire Chief David Glass did not want the job permanently.
Crawford is a resident instructor at the National Fire Academy. He recently wrote an article for Fire Chief magazine on risky traditions in the fire service.
He was part of a group of outside investigators who reviewed firefighting practices in Charleston, S.C., where nine firefighters died during a fire at a furniture store last year.
In Anne Arundel County, MD Deputy Chief Robert Ray succeeds retiring Chief David Stokes.
Excerpts and picture from The Capitol Online:
Appointed to take over as the county’s ninth fire chief starting Oct. 1 is Deputy Chief J. Robert Ray, a 52-year-old Arnold resident who has served in the department since 1977. His last job was as director of the department’s Logistics Bureau.
In his more than 30 years with the county, Chief Ray has worn many hats – and helmets. He has served as company grade officer, command level officer, and deputy chief. He has served on incident-management teams for the Olympics and has worked with the Secret Service on Presidential details. He is a longtime member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Fire Academy Alumni Association and the National Society of Executive Fire Officers. And in 1997, the new chief served as president of the Maryland Arson Investigators Association.
Chief Stokes, 51, said Chief Ray brings “a scope of breadth of experience that reflects his commitment to excellence in leadership.”
He told Chief Ray this morning the position is a tough job, “but this is a fun job.”
Chief Ray acknowledged there would be challenges ahead in tough economic times, but is excited about the position.
“I feel like a very lucky guy,” he said. “This has been a dream of mine for a very long time, and it’s finally coming true.”
For a while The Baltimore Sun had us believing it was a brand new chief with the same great face. The image below is from the paper’s website. It has since been corrected.
Yes, I am aware pointing out an error like this is going to come back and bite me big time. But I just wanted to be able to write the line above (“brand new chief with the same great face”). Sorry.
