WACO -- City Manager Dale Fisseler has announced his selection of Bobby Tatum, Jr. as the new Fire Chief for the City of Waco, and will ask the City Council to confirm the appointment.
The City selected Strategic Government Resources (SGR) to conduct a nationwide search to fill the position and Tatum was the lone finalist in a pool of 76 highly qualified applicants from 23 states, as well as Australia. SGR is an executive search, interim management, and training firm based out of Keller, Texas, specializing in helping local governments be more successful by recruiting, assessing and developing, innovative, collaborative, authentic leaders.
Tatum has more than 30 years of fire service experience and currently serves as the Deputy Chief/Bureau of Fire Prevention for the City of Fort Worth where he began his career in 1985. He holds a Master of Science degree in Leadership with emphasis in Disaster Preparedness and Executive Fire Service Leadership from Grand Canyon University, a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree from Midwestern State University, and an Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences degree in Fire Protection Technology from Tarrant County College.
Tatum is a graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program and holds Texas Commission on Fire Protection Master Firefighter and Master Arson Investigator certifications. He is a FBI Certified Bomb Technician, and holds additional certifications including Aircraft Fire Rescue, EMT-B, Intermediate Fire Instructor, Haz-Mat Technician, Field Examiner, Incident Safety Officer, Fire Officer I, Fire Inspector, and Basic Peace Officer.
Fisseler said, “I am excited to recommend Bobby to the City Council for consideration as our next Fire Chief and am looking forward to introducing him to them at our next meeting. The interview panels were impressed with his experience and enthusiasm and I believe that he will bring outstanding leadership to this important position.”
In his first recorded interview since Fisseler's announcement, Tatum told KCEN he was thrilled to be putting on a new uniform. He said Waco is unique in that it's growing and sits along the Brazos River. Tatum said he had goals of making sure the department could provide adequate service to the city as it develops economically, and he wanted to make sure it could also better respond to water emergencies.
Tatum said while he was honored to have the distinction of being Waco's first African American Fire Chief, he wanted to focus on being a leader the community was proud of.
"My focus is not to be the first African American Fire Chief, but I want to be the best Fire Chief of the City of Waco," said Tatum on Wednesday.
Tatum added, he wanted to be a role-model and show others they can advance in the fire service, and for his department to reflect the community.
Tatum said he and his wife chose Waco because it was a great place to live. He promised to be inclusive, engaged, and visible to the community.
The first day for Tatum will be May 16th, per city council's final approval.
