Historic Montgomery Fire Chief Approved By County Council

SILVER SPRING, MD — Corey Smedley will make history Monday as the first Black chief of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, after his appointment was unanimously confirmed Tuesday by the Montgomery County Council.

Smedley is the former City of Alexandria fire chief and a former Prince George’s County Deputy Fire Chief, a county news release said.

Smedley will also break precedent as the first fire chief who was not promoted from within the Montgomery County department. He begins work July 15, taking over duties from interim fire chiefs Gary Cooper and John Kinsley.

"Corey Smedley, with his distinguished service and leadership in the Prince George's County Fire Department and as chief of the City of Alexandria’s Fire Department, brings a wealth of experience and a clear vision for the future of MCFRS," said County Executive Marc Elrich in a statement. "His commitment to fostering strong relationships within the fire service and our communities is evident, and under his leadership, we will continue our work to support, improve and innovate in our fire and rescue services. I look forward to swearing him in as our next chief."

The County Council held a public interview with Smedley on June 25 and had a confirmation vote on July 9.

Smedley describes his leadership style as supportive. He aims to inspire the next generation of fire service leaders and advance the industry.

"I want to thank County Executive Elrich and County Council for their faith in me to serve and ensure the safety of Maryland’s largest county. I am honored and grateful for this unique opportunity to become a part of this incredible organization," Smedley said in a news release. "I will be joining a great department and gaining some amazing colleagues in the first responders, volunteers and civilians who make up the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service.

"I share in the organization’s vision ‘to enhance public safety and support quality of life’ through community engagement, outreach and education. With these guiding principles, we can move forward together to improve the organization and continue providing the best service to the community," Smedley said.

He began his public safety career more than 33 years ago, serving in the U.S. Army Reserves. Smedley later joined the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department, where he moved up the ranks to the position of deputy fire chief. In 2015, he joined the Alexandria Fire Department as the deputy chief of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Smedley later became the assistant chief and ultimately assumed the role of Alexandria's fire/EMS chief.

While serving as Alexandria's fire chief, Smedley worked to align the community's needs and expectations with the department's priorities. He applied a philosophy of continuous improvement through the accreditation process, enhanced staffing levels and created a robust health and safety program, which included cancer screenings for first responders. Smedley also revitalized the volunteer system and shepherded the inaugural collective bargaining agreement with the International Association of Fire Fighters.