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The Troup County Board of Commissioners recently announced Zachary Steele has been named Deputy Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director, effective May 4, 2022.

Before joining the Troup County Fire Department, Steele served as a firefighter in the Catoosa County Fire Department for 15 years and subsequently as a staff instructor at the Georgia Fire Academy in Forsyth, Georgia, where he oversaw fire officer, fire instructor, and live-fire courses.

He is also a member of several professional organizations, including The Northwest Georgia Fire Chiefs Association, the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs, and the Georgia State Firefighters Association.

In 2006, Steele was awarded Catoosa County Department Firefighter of the Year, and in 2008, he successfully completed the Georgia FLAMES Program (#72), where he serves on the command staff as a lead instructor.

Steele holds many certifications and licenses including: Georgia EMT; NPQ Firefighter I and II; NPQ Fire Officer I, II, III, and IV; NPQ Fire Instructor I and II; Georgia Certified Firefighter; and Georgia Certified Fire Chief.

He holds both associate and bachelor’s degrees from Waldorf University, where he graduated summa cum laude in Fire-Rescue Administration and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership.

“I am excited to join the Troup County Fire Department and serve the citizens as the Deputy Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director,” said Steele. “This is not an assignment I will take lightly as we do our best to prepare all citizens and visitors of Troup County with a safe community to visit and live in.”

As deputy fire chief and emergency management director, Steele will be responsible for: directing and coordinating the Emergency Operations Center, maintaining emergency management compliance for Troup County and various municipalities, developing and maintaining the county-wide Emergency Operation Plan, developing cost estimates and making budget projections for the Emergency Management Program, developing and implementing pre-disaster mitigation strategies and planning, and performing all other related duties as assigned.