Barrow County Fire Chief Alan Shuman will retire effective June 30, concluding a nearly five-decade career in fire service and public safety leadership.
“Chief Shuman’s service to Barrow County and to the broader fire service community is nothing short of extraordinary,” said Srikanth Yamala, Barrow County Manager. “His dedication, innovation, and compassion have touched countless lives and shaped the future of our department. We congratulate him on a distinguished career and wish him every happiness in retirement.”
Shuman began his fire service career in November 1975 with the City of Hapeville Fire Department, where he became a first-class firefighter and CPR instructor. He moved to the City of Riverdale in 1976, rising through the ranks to become Fire Chief in 1992. While at Riverdale, he focused on training, code enforcement, EMS development, and played a key role in founding Georgia’s statewide mutual aid group, serving as its first president.
In 2000, Shuman was appointed Chief State Fire Marshal for Georgia. During his tenure, he served on the National Association of State Fire Marshals Board of Directors, ultimately becoming its president in 2009–2010. He was appointed by Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama to serve on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline Safety Committee. Under his leadership, Georgia significantly reduced fire-related deaths through enhanced public education efforts.
After 11 years as State Fire Marshal, Shuman transitioned to fire safety consulting before joining Barrow County in 2012 as Fire Safety Officer, eventually becoming Fire Chief. He quickly made Barrow his home and led a number of critical initiatives that improved the department’s service and transparency.
“It has been and honor and privilege to serve the citizens of Barrow County for the past 13 years. I am confident that the men and women who put on the uniform each and every day will continue providing the highest level of service now and into the future,” said Shuman.
Below are just a few of the many accomplishments, achievements and programs launched during Shuman’s tenure with Barrow County:
- Began conducting school safety inspections
- Developed a fire training center
- Secured EMS transport agreement with NEGHS
- Partnered with EMA during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Installed Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs) in all emergency equipment
- Led transition toward paperless department operations
- Achieved ISO rating improvement from 4 to 3
- Launched the Explorer youth program
- Collaborated with technical schools for Firefighter I and II certifications
- Standardized and modernized the department’s emergency fleet
Deputy Chief Brett Skinner will assume the role of Interim Fire Chief as the County begins a search for a permanent replacement.