WILLIAMSBURG — The City of Williamsburg announced Tuesday Brian Phillips has been hired as deputy fire chief for the City of Williamsburg Fire Department.
Phillips was chosen after a nationwide recruitment and selection process, the city said. Phillips, who started in his new role on May 8, succeeds Fire Chief Larry Snyder Jr., who was promoted in November.
Phillips is a 20-year veteran of the Virginia Beach Fire Department, rising to the rank of battalion chief/paramedic and overseeing the operations of seven fire companies in four stations, the city said. For the last 12 years, he has also been a member of the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Team (VATF-2), serving as a safety officer.
Phillips began his career with the York County Department of Fire & Life Safety.
“Deputy Chief Phillips rose through the ranks of the Virginia Beach Fire Department, gathering a wealth of experience in both operations and administration,” Snyder said. “As we transition to a new state-of-the-art fire station this fall and continue to develop to meet future demands, our department and the Williamsburg community will benefit from the knowledge and expertise of Deputy Chief Phillips.”
The deputy fire chief’s role will be to assist the fire chief in the planning, direction, and implementation of policies, operating procedures, and guidelines for fire suppression, community risk reduction, emergency medical services, and emergency management, the city said. He will also serve as the deputy coordinator for emergency management and assume responsibility for the department in the absence of the fire chief.
“It is an honor to join the ranks of a fire department so committed to excellent public service,” Phillips said. “I have lived in the Greater Williamsburg area for nearly 20 years, and I am excited by the opportunity to serve my neighbors as deputy fire chief of the Williamsburg Fire Department.”
Phillips is a registered nurse with an associate degree in nursing from Excelsior College, an associate degree in emergency health services from the College of Health Sciences, a bachelor’s degree in EMS management from Hampton University, and a Master of Public Administration degree from Liberty University, according to the city.
