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Tom Shannon named new Scottsdale fire chief
Oct. 12, 2012
Contact: Kelly Corsette, communications & public affairs director, Office: 480-312-2336, Mobile: 602-359-5965
Tom Shannon named new Scottsdale fire chief
Scottsdale executive assistant fire chief Tom Shannon has been named the city’s new fire chief. Shannon has been the city’s acting fire chief since August when then-chief Garret Olson accepted a position with the City of San Luis Obispo, California.
“Tom Shannon brings great skill and passion to the job, and I think the community and the Scottsdale Fire Department will be very well served under his leadership,” said Acting City Manager Dan Worth.
Shannon was named chief after competing with more than 30 candidates identified through a national search.
“Tom has more than 24 years of experience in fire services, bringing exceptional planning and leadership skills to the position. He is the right person to move the department forward and build a sustainable model of fire service for the future of Scottsdale,” said Alan Rodbell, Scottsdale’s public safety executive director.
Tom Shannon has been with the Scottsdale Fire Department since 2009 when he was hired as the city’s emergency manager; he was promoted to executive assistant fire chief in 2011.
He began his emergency services career in 1982 as an emergency medical technician (EMT)/paramedic, and was hired as a Glendale firefighter/paramedic in 1988. He served 20 years with the Glendale Fire Department, rising from firefighter to the rank of assistant chief. During that time, he served as a hazardous materials paramedic, recruit training officer and incident safety officer. He also managed Glendale’s emergency management and preparedness efforts.
He left the Glendale Fire Department in 2008 to become the fire chief for Salt Lake City, Utah before returning to Arizona in 2009.
“I'm excited for the opportunity to lead this extraordinary organization. The City of Scottsdale has outstanding public servants in their firefighters and fire service professionals and I look forward to building on the tremendous progress that has been made,” said Shannon.
Tom Shannon has a master’s degree in education/leadership from Northern Arizona University and a master of arts degree in security studies from the Center for Homeland Defense and Security at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.
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