New Fire Chief Selected 

City Manager Ed Kitchen announced today (Monday) the selection of Johnny Wayne Teeters as Greensboro's new Fire Chief.  He currently serves as Deputy Chief of the Emergency Services Division.

Teeters began his career with the City of Greensboro Fire Department in 1970 and has spent the last 29 years with the fire service. Originally hired as a firefighter, Teeters has worked his way up through the ranks serving as Captain, Battalion Chief, Assistant Chief, and, since 1995, Deputy Chief. His duties have included directing the activities and personnel at the 16 municipal Fire Stations located throughout Greensboro, coordinating Hazardous Materials response and technical rescue services, developing departmental policies and overseeing the departmental budget, and serving as Acting Fire Chief in the absence of the current Chief.

During his years of service, Teeters has received statewide honors with selections to serve on the NC State Hazardous Material Certification Board, Secretary of the NC Association of Hazardous Materials Responders, Hazardous Material Transportation Act Committee, and Promotional Assessment Boards for various NC cities. He is a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Fire Protection Association and Fire Department Safety Officer Association, and the NC Fire Chiefs Association, Fire Commission, and State Certification Board.

Teeters attended Guilford College and majored in Business Administration. He received an associate degree in Applied Science, Fire Protection Technology, from Guilford Technical Community College in 1997. He also attended the University of Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute, the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD, the North Carolina Justice Academy, the North Carolina State Fire College and the Institute of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

City Manager Kitchen noted that, " We have great confidence that Johnny Teeters will continue and enhance the fine tradition of excellence in the Greensboro Fire Department as its new Chief. He has extensive knowledge of all aspects of our operation and has contributed in many ways to the outstanding national reputation our department enjoys. We expect him to be another in a long line of fine Fire Chiefs and a great addition to the City’s Executive Team."

Assistant City Manager Mona Gillis Edwards echoed those thoughts noting that she has been impressed with the level of knowledge and professionalism that Teeters has exhibited over the years. "He enjoys working with a variety of people in the organization and in the community and will be a great asset in his new role as Fire Chief.

Teeters stated that he was grateful for the opportunity to serve as Chief of the Greensboro Fire Department. "It has always been my dream to one day lead this outstanding department. I look forward to working closely with all of our personnel to ensure that the high level of service and superior leadership that our citizens have come to expect from us is continued. I am committed to ensuring that the men and women who work in this department are more integrally involved in the decision-making process. I am also committed to building greater diversity in our work force."

Teeters was selected from a field of 61 internal and external applicants. A citizen's panel conducted interviews with the 6 top candidates, narrowing the field down to the top 2 candidates. The City Manager and 2 Assistant City Managers interviewed these candidates and made the final selection. Teeters begins his new position immediately. His salary will be $78,576.