Staff Report

J. Brian Spicer took the oath of office Friday in council chambers and assumed the position of deputy chief of operations for the Suffolk Department of Fire and Rescue.

This filled the vacancy left by the retirement of Deputy Chief Sam Cowan in December 2003. Before a crowd of former mentors, family, friends, and subordinates, past and present, Clerk of the Circuit Court W. Randolph Carter administered the Oath of Office. Spicer’s father, Retired Chief Dudley King, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Fire Department, handled the badge pinning.

Spicer, 41, has served more than 20 years in fire and rescue.

He rose through the ranks from firefighter to Battalion Chief for the city of Portsmouth. Spicer holds an Associates degree in Fire Science from Tidewater Community College, a Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Medical Systems Management from Hampton University.

Spicer, a national registered paramedic, also graduated from the

Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy.

The new deputy chief is a Suffolk resident and along with his wife, Terri, share six children, ages ranging from nine to 21 years.