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Two Fayette fire
chiefs qualify for professional designation
By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com
Two of Fayette County’s deputy fire chiefs have completed a rigorous
course to become one of fewer than 250 professionals in the country designated
as Chief Fire Officers.
Allen McCullough and Tom Bartlett participated in the program, which is
administered by the International Fire Chiefs Association. Fewer than
10 persons have been inducted as Chief Fire Officer in Georgia, including
McCullough, Bartlett and Chief Jack Krakeel, the county’s public
safety director who was chosen for the honor last year.
Participants are measured in seven areas, including experience, education,
professional development, professional contributions, association membership,
community involvement and technical competencies.
“Both Chief McCullough and Chief Bartlett each have over 20 years
of experience in administration in Fayette Count and both are cross-trained
not only in fire and EMS, but also in law enforcement and emergency management,”
said Krakeel. “This multi-disciplinary technical understanding of
all components of public safety has certainly contributed to our ability
to manage and administer seven different department under the Division
of Public Safety. They are both to be commended for this accomplishment
of designation and for their leadership provided over the years for the
citizens of Fayette County.”
The scoring was conducted by a board of review consisting of members of
the fire and emergency services profession, academia and municipal agencies.
Krakeel said only a select few fire chiefs can qualify to be a Chief Fire
Officer. The program measures the professional and personal characteristic
profile desired of a Chief Fire Officer, Krakeel added.
The CFO designation also speaks well of a person’s status among their
peers, Krakeel said.
Both McCullough and Bartlett have extensive histories with the Fayette
County Department of Fire and Emergency Services.
McCullough has been with the department for over 20 years and worked with
Fire Chief Larry Smith to consolidate Fire, EMS, emergency management
and the 911 Center as a comprehensive fire and emergency services organization.
He has been deputy chief and chief of administrative services for 14 years
and directs the Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Management/Homeland
Security sections in addition to training and education, accreditation
and human resources.
McCullough also has numerous instructor certifications in public safety
and healthcare while also serving on the faculty at Clayton College and
State University, Emory University, Mercer University and the University
of Maryland.
He also served as the chairman for the Hospital Task Force that helped
bring about Fayette Community Hospital. He and his wife Lynette have three
children: Joshua, Megan and Nicole.
Bartlett is the Deputy Chief of Operations and has been with the department
for over 22 years. He supervises the nine station captains who manage
the stations and apparatus along with the firefighter/EMTs and paramedics
employed by the county.
Bartlett also oversees the Fire Prevention Bureau, which is responsible
for the prevention, inspection and investigation of fires in the county.
He also directs the Hazardous Materials Team and the Special Tactics and
Rescue Team. Bartlett typically serves as incident commander of most major
fire and emergency service incidents which occur.
Bartlett and his wife Lee Ann have a daughter, Alex.
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