The City of Jacksonville has announced the a longtime fire employee as the city’s new fire chief.
Jacksonville native and seasoned firefighter Edward B. “Tee” Tallman III, who had been serving as battalion chief, replaces Jerry Hardison who left to become the chief of operations for the Winston Salem Fire Department, according to a press release from the city.
Tallman came to work with the Jacksonville Fire Department in 2000 as a firefighter and was promoted to driver operator in June 2004, company officer in 2012, platoon training officer in 2015 and battalion chief in March 2017.
In considering the position, City Manager Richard Woodruff and Director of Public Safety, Mike Yaniero asked firefighters what they wanted in a fire chief, according to the release.