Names in the News: June 12, 2022

BRIAN STURDIVANT was sworn in as the new chief of the Lansing (MI) Fire Department (LFD) on June 8. Sturdivant is a 30-plus-year fire service veteran. He became chief of the Battle Creek (MI) Fire Department in September 2018 and has also served as the chief/emergency manager in Milpitas, California; an executive deputy chief/emergency management coordinator in Petersburg, Virginia; a deputy chief in Scottsdale, Arizona; and a battalion/division chief in Atlanta, Georgia. Sturdivant graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School with a master’s degree in homeland defense and security and earned the Chief Fire Officer designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence.

MADISON PHILLIPS, 19, became the youngest paid firefighter in the history of the Pulaski (VA) Fire Department (PFD). Phillips began her fire service career at the age of 16 as a volunteer with the PFD. Her father, Cliff, a fire code official for the town of Blacksburg and a certified trainer, was one of her instructors at the fire academy. In addition, Phillips’ grandfather was also a firefighter, and her uncle and several cousins currently work as firefighters.

JOE MURRAY will retire as deputy chief of the Beloit (WI) Fire Department (BFD) on July 15 after 29 years with the department. Murray officially joined the BFD in 1994 after a one-year stint with the department as a paid-on-call firefighter. In 1997, he earned his paramedic license. In 2000, he was made relief driver, and was promoted to acting lieutenant in 2007 and then to lieutenant in 2008 before being named deputy chief in 2011. His father, Joe, was a BFD member from 1967-1990.

LANCE HARRIS will take over as the new chief of the Arlington Heights (IL) Fire Department on June 27. Harris has previously served as chief for the West Dundee (IL) Fire Department and deputy chief for the Elk Grove (IL) Fire Department, where he worked in various roles for 25 years. Harris earned a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice from Lewis University and Chief Fire Officer certifications from the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshall and the Center for Public Safety Excellence. He is also a member of the Illinois Fire Chiefs and Metro Fire Chiefs Associations.

DOMINICK “NICK” SWINHART took over as the new chief of the Key Peninsula Fire Department (KPFD) in Lakebay, Washington, on May 16. Swinhart is a 33-year fire service veteran and arrives at the KPFD from the Camas-Washougal Fire Department, where he was chief for the past 11 years. He started his career working with the Tacoma (WA) Fire Department during his paramedic internship, and his first role in the fire services was in 1989 as a volunteer with the Grays Harbor Fire District in Aberdeen.