WILLIAMSBURG — City Manager Andrew O. Trivette announced the hire of Larry Snyder Jr. as the City of Williamsburg’s Fire Chief Thursday, with immediate effect.
Snyder has served as the interim fire chief since March, and as deputy fire chief since 2014.
According to a press release, as fire chief, Snyder is charged with planning and directing programs and services to ensure the community’s safety; formulating strategies and making organizational decisions that are consistent with the goals and objectives of the city manager and city council. He will also serve as the city’s Coordinator of Emergency Management.
“It’s always thrilling to promote from within,” Trivette said. “There is no greater test of whether a person can not only do a job but do it well than to be assigned to it for nine months. Chief Snyder has demonstrated his capacity to safeguard the Williamsburg Fire Department’s reputation as a leader in public safety and to respond to the needs of the firefighters who choose to serve in Williamsburg. It’s my pleasure to welcome Larry as an official member of the City’s leadership team.”
Snyder has more than 27 years of Fire and EMS experience, the city said. Prior to Williamsburg, Snyder rose through the ranks of the Hanover County Fire-EMS Department. Starting in the field at age 16, he volunteered for the Ashcake Volunteer Rescue Squad in Hanover County.
After graduating from William & Mary with a bachelor’s degree in biology, Snyder returned to Hanover, working as a full-time firefighter/medic with Hanover Fire and EMS. He served in operations, training, logistics, and administration, eventually achieving the rank of battalion chief, the city said.
He has a master’s degree in public administration from Virginia Tech and is a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program at the National Fire Academy.
“It is a great honor to be selected to serve as the next Fire Chief for the City of Williamsburg,” Snyder said. “I look forward to working alongside the men and women of the department, both career and volunteer, building upon our storied history, and helping to guide the department to meet the challenges and demands of the future. My family and I love the City of Williamsburg, and I am humbled to be given the privilege to serve this community as their Fire Chief.”
