Winchester Appoints New Fire and Rescue Chief

City Manager Jim O’Connor is pleased to announce the appointment of J. Scott Cullers as the City of Winchester’s Fire and Rescue Chief. Mr. Cullers most recently retired from Loudoun County Fire & Rescue Department in 2008 after six years, achieving the rank of Deputy Chief. Prior to joining Loudoun County, Cullers spent twenty-seven years with Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department, retiring with the rank of Captain II in 2002. Mr. Cullers succeeds Chief Frank Wright, who retired May 28, 2010 with over thirty-five years of service to the City of Winchester. Captain Gary Ganoe has been serving as the Interim Fire & Rescue Chief since Chief Wright’s retirement.

Mr. Cullers began his fire and rescue service as a volunteer in Winchester in 1972 and has since been a volunteer member at Friendship, Rouss, and South End Fire Companies.

Mr. Cullers holds a M.S. in Management from National-Louis University, a B.S. in Fire Administration from the University of Maryland, College Park, an A.S. in Business Administration from Lord Fairfax Community College, and received his high school diploma from John Handley High School in 1971. Additionally, Mr. Cullers holds the prestigious Chief Fire Officer Designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence.

City Manager Jim O’Connor stated, “Scott brings a unique blend of experience from leadership positions in other departments, but is also well-known and invested in this community. He is taking over an outstanding department, but as service demands for fire and rescue increase, I expect that Scott can effectively lead this department, while working closely with the volunteer companies.” Mr. Cullers is expected to begin working within the next two weeks. A nationwide search for Fire & Rescue Chief was initiated in mid-May, garnering over 60 applications.

Mr. Cullers is a lifelong resident of the City of Winchester where he currently resides with his wife Margie.

via Winchester Va News.

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Posted by admin on Aug 11 2010. Filed under Winchester News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.