Barrow County Fire Chief Alan Shuman will retire on June 30, concluding a distinguished career that spans nearly five decades in fire service and public safety leadership.
Deputy Chief Brett Skinner will step in as interim fire chief while the county conducts a search for Shuman’s permanent successor.
“Chief Shuman’s service to Barrow County and to the broader fire service community is nothing short of extraordinary,” Barrow County Manager Srikanth Yamala said. “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. A year later, he joined the City of Riverdale, where he steadily advanced to become Fire Chief in 1992. There, he focused on firefighter training, code enforcement, EMS development, and played a pivotal role in establishing Georgia’s statewide mutual aid group, serving as its first president.
In 2000, Shuman was appointed Georgia’s Chief State Fire Marshal. During his 11-year tenure, he served on the National Association of State Fire Marshals Board of Directors, later becoming its president in 2009–2010. His federal service included appointments by Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline Safety Committee. Under his leadership, Georgia saw a marked decline in fire-related deaths, thanks in part to enhanced public education efforts.
Following his time as state fire marshal, Shuman worked in fire safety consulting before joining Barrow County in 2012 as Fire Safety Officer. He was later named Fire Chief, where he led several initiatives to improve departmental performance and transparency.
“It has been an 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,” Shuman said
Among Shuman’s accomplishments during his tenure with Barrow County include:
- Initiated school safety inspections
- Developed a dedicated fire training center
- Secured an EMS transport agreement with Northeast Georgia Health System
- Coordinated with EMA during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Installed Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs) in all emergency vehicles
- Transitioned the department toward paperless operations
- Improved the department’s ISO rating from 4 to 3
- Launched a youth-focused Explorer program
- Partnered with local technical colleges for Firefighter I and II certifications
- Standardized and modernized the emergency fleet
