Kirkwood Announces Hiring of New Fire Chief (info provided through the Kirkwood email newsletter)
The City of Kirkwood has chosen James L. Silvernail to be the City's next Fire Chief. Silvernail, who will take over from Interim Fire Chief Larry Bierman, is expected to start May 16, 2016. Bierman was appointed as interim chief in October 2015, following the retirement of Fire Chief Tom Openlander. Bierman has served in this capacity while the City conducted a recruitment process, with the help of GovHR USA.
Silvernail most recently was employed by the Metro West Fire Protection District as a Battalion Chief. He has been in the fire service since 1997 and has served as a Battalion Chief since 2013. In that position he was responsible for the supervision of five fire suppression companies and four advanced life support units. He has also been an instructor with the St. Louis County Fire Academy since 2001.
Silvernail holds a Master of Arts in Management, Human Resources, from Lindenwood University and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration/Finance from Northeast Missouri State University. He is in the process of completing the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy. Silvernail was raised in St. Louis County and currently resides in Wildwood with his wife and children.
Silvernail was chosen from a field of more than 75 applicants in a recruitment process led by GovHR USA. The City narrowed the list to four final candidates, who spent two days being interviewed and participating in an assessment process that evaluated writing, team work, public speaking, and judgment.
"We are very happy to have Jim Silvernail join the City as our newest department head," said Russ Hawes, Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Kirkwood. "He is well qualified and brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the Kirkwood Fire Department. We were fortunate to have so many qualified candidates to choose from, and we are confident that he will be a good fit with our management team, the fire department, and the community."
Welcome Reception for New Fire Chief Will Be May 20
Open House Reception for new Fire Chief will be held on Friday, May 20, from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m., at Kirkwood City Hall, 139 S. Kirkwood Road. Please join us in welcoming Kirkwood's new Fire Chief, Jim Silvernail, and help us say thank you to outgoing Interim Fire Chief Larry Bierman, who came out of retirement to serve the City in an interim capacity since last October.
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