From City of Charleston News Release: Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. announced today the names of seven candidates for the position of Fire Chief of the City of Charleston who will visit the city as part of the selection process.  The candidates were narrowed down from 141 applicants. Part of their visit will include an orientation and tour of the city and its neighborhoods.

On Monday, September 22, there will be an opportunity for members of city council to meet the candidates and hear a few words from each of them at a lunch meeting.

From 3:00 to 4:30, the candidates will have an opportunity to meet and greet members of the Fire Department at the Charleston Maritime Center.  And the Charleston Visitors Center will be the location of a reception from 6:00 to 7:30 for invited members of the community to meet the candidates. The candidates will have an opportunity to meet and greet members of the Fire Department at the Charleston Maritime Center. 

Mayor Riley said, “A lot of hard work has produced a pool of highly qualified and experienced candidates for Fire Chief. I look forward to this process and for the candidates to become familiar with our wonderful community. We have designed a unique process which will allow our community’s leadership and the members of our fire department to meet these outstanding candidates. I take this process very seriously and it is probably one of the most significant duties of a mayor.  I know my decision will be a difficult one. “

The candidates for Fire Chief of the City Charleston are:

Chief Richard Brannon
Deputy Chief of Operations, Mobile (AL) Fire-Rescue Department
30 years experience in the fire service, including the last 3 years as Deputy
B.P.S. Memphis State University
B.A. University of South Alabama
Executive Fire Officer (NFA)
Chief Fire Officer (CFOD)
LCDR US Coast Guard Reserve

Thomas Carr                
Chief, Montgomery County (MD) Fire and Rescue Service
30 years experience in the fire service, including the last 4 years as Chief
Fellowship, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
M.S. University of Maryland
B.A. National University
Certified Public Manager, George Washington University      

   
Larry Collins              
Director and Chief (Ret.), Dayton (OH) Fire Department
30 years experience in the fire service, including 11 years as Chief
B.S. LaSalle University
ATS, Fire-Rescue Administration, Sinclair Community College
Management Excellence Program, University of Virginia

 
Jamie Geer                
Chief, Clearwater (FL) Fire and Rescue
33 years experience in the fire service, including the last 4 as Chief
M.P.A., State University of West Georgia
B.S. Shorter College
A.P.S. Midlands Technical College
Chief Fire Officer (CFOD)

William Goodwin
Chief (Ret.) Baltimore (MD) Fire Department
33 years in fire service, including 8 as Chief
Fellowship, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
M.S. Johns Hopkins University
B.S. University of Maryland

Thomas Solberg
Chief, Lee’s Summit (MO) Fire Department
30 years in the fire service, including the last 8 years as Chief
M.S. Baker university
B.A. Baker University
A.A. Baker University
Chief Fire Officer (CFOD)

John Rukavina (no photo available)             
Director of Public Safety (Ret.), Wake County (NC)
36 years in fire service, including 14 as Chief and 8 as Director of Public Safety
J.D. University of Minnesota
FEMA Fellow and National Leadership Initiative, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
Executive Fire Officer (NFA)
Chief Fire Officer (CFOD)