Dr. Brad Brown will serve as the City of Grand Rapids 25th fire chief. Dr. Brown has been working for the fire department for two decades. He’s fought fires, served as acting equipment operator and officer. Brown has worked his way up the administrative ranks as planning lieutenant then captain on his way to assistant chief-administration and fill-in acting fire chief. Leading the 203-member department, Brown has also overseen its $36 million budget.
When Chief John Lehman announced his retirement in January, City Manager Mark Washington initiated a nationwide search for his replacement. Two top candidates were identified. Eloy Vega is fire chief and emergency management coordinator for the City of Port Neches. He also served as former Fire District Chief of Laredo, Texas.
Washington said he selected Dr. Brown because, ”He will build upon the good foundation laid under Chief Lehman’s extraordinary leadership. He cares deeply for our residents, this organization, his fellow firefighters and the department.”
Brown’s first day leading the Grand Rapids Fire Department is May 1st.
