Aug. 15, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
C I T Y O F B A T T L E C R E E K
CITY MANAGER
For more information contact: City Manager Rebecca Fleury, (269) 966‐3378
City offers Brian Sturdivant the position as new fire chief
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — The city has made a conditional offer, that has been accepted, to Brian Sturdivant for the position of fire chief, with a tentative start date of Sept. 24.
Sturdivant has more than 25 years of experience, most recently serving as the deputy fire chief/emergency management coordinator for the City of Petersburg, Virginia. He held that position since November of 2014. He also has worked with fire departments in Milpitas, California; Scottsdale, Arizona; and Fulton County, Georgia. Sturdivant has more than 25 years of experience.
A Battle Creek native, Sturdivant attended Shorter University, Atlanta, GA with an associate’s degree in business; Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Ariz. with a bachelor’s degree in public administration; and from Naval Postgraduate School, Center for Homeland Defense and Security, Monterrey, CA with a master’s degree in Security Studies. He trained as a chief fire officer at the Center for Public Safety Excellence, Chantilly, VA.
"I am very humbled and excited to be selected as the next Fire Chief in Battle Creek. My transition into the City organization and fire department will be very collaborative, positive, and productive. It is truly my professional honor to have the opportunity to work with and for its dedicated staff and personnel."
Former Fire Chief Dave Schmaltz resigned in April, after serving over four years with the City of Battle Creek. Since then, Police Chief Jim Blocker has served as the interim director of fire and police services.
“I am excited to have Brian come home to Battle Creek as our fire chief,” said City Manager Rebecca Fleury. “We had some excellent candidates, and it was a close call but Brian’s background and diverse fire experience as well as his excellent community presentation, communication skills, and commitment to build and strengthen relationships both internal and external to the fire department is the best fit for what our community and city need at this moment in time. However, what truly moved him to the top candidate position was his roots in Battle Creek. He was born and raised here and that makes a difference to me and to our community.”
The department is professionally staffed with 77 personnel assigned to one of three 24‐hour shifts for emergency response. There is also one fire inspector, a training officer, four battalion chiefs and the fire chief. The department staffs six stations throughout the city and administrative offices are located in a seventh building at 195 E. Michigan Ave.
The department responds to more than 7,000 calls annually and provides services including fire suppression, medical and hazardous material responses, rescue, confined space emergencies, pre‐fire inspections, fire prevention and public education.