Names in the News: June 25, 2023

PHILLIP PENNINGTON was promoted to the position of chief with the Naples (FL) Fire-Rescue Department (NFRD) on June 19. Pennington is a 35-year fire-rescue services veteran, serving the city of Naples in various roles since September 2015 including deputy chief of emergency management and interim fire-rescue chief. Prior to his arrival in Naples, he served 21 years with the Fort Lauderdale (FL) Fire Department and six years with Broward County Emergency Medical Services. Pennington had been serving as acting chief after previous NFRD chief Pete Dimaria retired on February 10.

LEE GLOVER was named the new chief of the Frisco (TX) Fire Department (FFD). He had been serving as FFD’s interim chief since September 2022. Glover is a 32-year FFD veteran who began his career there in 1991, working his way up the ranks to become a lieutenant, captain, and deputy chief. He also served as assistant chief from 2009 to 2022, overseeing areas of administration, support services, and emergency services. Glover has a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University Commerce and an associate degree from Collin College. Glover is also a member of the Denton County (TX) Fire Chief’s Association.

BRET STIDHAM will take over as the new chief and director of emergency management for the Arlington (TX) Fire Department (AFD) on August 7. Stidham is a 30-year professional firefighter with Dallas (TX) Fire-Rescue (DFR). He had served as second-in-command with DFR since 2019 and was its assistant chief of emergency operations and special operations since 2017. Stidham will replace outgoing AFD Chief Don Crowson, who will retire after a 40-year fire service career. AFD Assistant Chief Jonathan Ingols will continue serving as the department’s interim chief until Stidham takes the reins.

ALAN ROBY was named the new fire marshal for the city of Huntington, West Virginia. He had been serving as a lieutenant with the Huntington (WV) Fire Department (HFD). Roby is a nine-year HFD veteran and had served as the city’s deputy fire marshal since February 2020. He has a bachelor’s degree in fire administration and fire investigation as well as an associate degree in fire science from Columbia Southern University and an associate degree in occupational development from Mountwest Community and Technical College. Roby also has technical training certifications in fire investigation from the National Fire Academy.

JOHN TENGER will take over as the new chief of the Escondido (CA) Fire Department (EFD) on July 15. Tenger is a 24-year EFD veteran who was most recently serving as its deputy chief since 2020. Before arriving in Escondido, he joined the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District as a volunteer firefighter in 1997. He then became a full-time Escondido paramedic/firefighter in 1999, later being promoted to fire engineer, captain, battalion chief, and then fire division chief in 2017.