City introduces new Fire Chief

City Manager Sheryl Sculley recently introduced Charles N. Hood as San Antonio’s new fire chief. Following City Council confirmation, Hood will begin his responsibilities on Monday, April 16, and will serve as the first African-American fire chief in the history of San Antonio.

As fire chief, Hood will be responsible for developing strategic policies and providing the highest level of fire and emergency medical services (EMS) to the community’s 1.3 million residents.

“Chief Hood’s immediate priorities will be to concentrate on Fire/EMS response times across the city and on labor management relations,” said Sculley. “We are fortunate to have someone with his qualifications and of his caliber joining our City organization.”

Hood joins the City with more than 23 years of fire and emergency services experience with the Phoenix Fire Department. His tenure with the Phoenix Fire Department included high ranking management positions as a Division Chief, Battalion Chief, Deputy Chief and most recently as Assistant Chief.

The fire chief recruitment process included a series of panel interviews including two community panels, fire personnel and City management staff. Sculley also interviewed each fire chief finalist.

Hood holds a Bachelor of Science in Fire Service Management from Ottawa University. He also serves as an adjunct faculty member at Texas A&M University – College Station, Texas, in the national Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center. Hood has served on national deployments including Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the 2004 Democratic National Convention, the 2003 Columbia Space Shuttle Incident and the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.
 

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