Albemarle County names 27-year vet David Puckett as new fire, rescue chief

Career Albemarle County firefighter David Puckett has been named the new chief of Albemarle County Fire Rescue.

Puckett has been with ACFR since 1998, hired at the time as one of the department’s first full-time career firefighters.

He rose through the ranks over his 27 years in ACFR, leadership roles as captain and battalion chief, and for the last 13 years, he has served as the deputy chief of operations.

“I look forward to continuing to serve Albemarle County by leading this department as we strengthen our department’s foundation and ensure that Albemarle County Fire Rescue remains a trusted, high-performing organization dedicated to the safety and well-being of the people of Albemarle County,” Puckett said in a statement.

Puckett succeeds Dan Eggleston as chief.

The elevation of the deputy wasn’t a given. The county hired a recruitment firm to assist with the search process, which included outreach and engagement of key stakeholders and county government staff.

Albemarle County Executive Jeff Richardson met with all interested employees who met the minimum requirements. The process then included panel interviews with 15 evaluators representing the Fire and EMS Board, ACFR staff, county department leadership, community stakeholders, and county executive leadership.

“Early in the recruitment process, it became clear that the next chief must be a proven leader with deep operational knowledge and established trust within the department and throughout the community,” Richardson said. “David’s long-standing relationships with both career and volunteer personnel, combined with his understanding of the combination system and our county’s unique qualities and needs, position him well to lead Albemarle County Fire Rescue into its next chapter.”

“David’s leadership has been demonstrated time and again throughout his extensive career with Albemarle County,” said Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Chair Ned Gallaway. “We are confident he will continue to lead this critical department with innovation and reliability as ACFR’s next chief.”