Post Date:04/19/2022 4:33 PMThe Collierville Board of Mayor and Aldermen name John Selberg as the new Fire Chief for the Collierville Fire Department at the April 25, 2022 BMA meeting. Selberg has over 40 years of experience working in a fire department starting as a firefighter and most recently serving as the Fire Chief for the City of Germantown.
Selberg began his career in Germantown as a volunteer firefighter in 1977. Just a few years later, he was hired by the City of Germantown as a firefighter/driver and continued to climb the ranks in the department. He served as a Germantown Fire Department Lieutenant, Battalion Chief, Fire Marshal, Assistant Fire Chief, and most recently, as the Fire Chief. In his 11 years as the Germantown Fire Chief, he managed a staff of 92 full-time staff and 20 reserve personnel. He also served as the Emergency Management Director for the City of Germantown. In his emergency management role, he worked with the Town of Collierville as the lead for the municipalities’ joint COVID-19 vaccination site at Germantown Baptist Church.
Along with his field experience with the Fire Department, Selberg holds bachelor and master’s degrees in business administration from the University of Memphis. He also earned an Executive Fire Officer Certificate from the National Fire Academy. The Executive Fire Officer Program provides senior officers with an understanding of the need to transform fire and emergency services organizations from being reactive to proactive.
Selberg has collected an impressive list of awards and accomplishments throughout his firefighting career. He’s been named Firefighter of the Year from the Kiwanis and Knights of Columbus organizations in Germantown, received a Governor’s First Responder Award through the state’s office of Homeland Security, and served as a President of the Tennessee Fire Chief’s Association. He has spent time as a task force leader for the Tennessee Urban Search and Rescue Task Force One with deployments ranging from the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, to multiple hurricane responses including Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Selberg made significant contributions to fire protection, prevention, and emergency services throughout his tenure with the City of Germantown. Under his leadership, the Germantown Fire Department received an Insurance Services Office (ISO) 1 Classification, which is the top rating representing an exemplary fire suppression program. Selberg also oversaw the implementation of Germantown’s ambulance service, which will be a priority for him as the Town begins managing ambulance service this summer.
After 44 years with the Collierville First Department, Buddy Billings, the Town’s current Fire Chief, will be retiring on July 1, 2022. Selberg will step into the role of the Fire Chief at this time. Return to full list >>
