rusty nail fire chief

zarazua4463 April 27, 2023 Comment

Russell “Rusty” Nail has been selected as the new Escambia County Fire Chief, responsible for supervising all Escambia County Fire Rescue staff. Nail’s target start date is Monday, May 7.

Nail joins Escambia County with over 26 years of experience as an accomplished chief fire officer including more than 12 years of supervisory and nine years of command-level experience, mostly in a fast-paced, large metropolitan fire department of 17 stations, with over 500 personnel and a budget of up to $100 million.

Nail will join Escambia County from Palm Bay, FL, where he currently serves as the City of Palm Bay Fire Rescue fire chief and emergency manager and previously served as a battalion chief. Nail graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in fire and emergency services management and from Brevard Community College with an Associate of Arts in general studies and Associate of Science in fire science technology.

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Prior to his tenure at Palm Bay, Nail worked for the City of Orlando Fire Department for more than 20 years, serving as assistant fire chief, assistant chief of planning, district chief and retiring as the deputy chief. Nail’s experience also includes working as a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician.

His certifications include being a State of Florida Certified Firefighter, Chief Fire Officer with the Centers for Public Safety Excellence and a University of Florida Executive Fire Officer, among others. Nail is a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Florida Fire Chiefs Association, Space Coast Fire Chiefs Association, Palm Bay Hospital Advisory Board and Eastern Florida State College Technical Advisory Committee.

Nail was selected from a pool of 77 applicants for the Escambia County Fire Chief position after a thorough selection process. The selection committee narrowed the list down to seven candidates and then to three finalists, ranking Nail as the top candidate. The selection process included several interviews with the selection committee, along with a tour of Escambia County Public Safety and a meet and greet with staff.

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As the Escambia County fire chief, Nail’s duties will include supervising fire rescue staff, providing oversight and directing implementation of internal operations, managing expenditures to the approved annual budget, developing goals and objectives and ensuring compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations.Interim County Administrator Amy Lovoy says she is inclined not to accept Escambia County Fire Chief Rusty Nail’s decision to rescind his resignation.

Lovoy said Nail had resigned or talked of resigning several times and had been talked into staying. She also said Nail had actually resigned in December and then rescinded his resignation several days later, but never made mention of any of the specific Escambia County Public Safety issues currently in the media.

Rusty, In December 2018 you came to a meeting with Matt Coughlin and turned in your letter of resignation. When I came into Matt’s office, I asked you 1) why you were leaving and 2) if I could talk you into staying. You told me at that time that you were certain that you wanted to leave and that the reasons were personal. I asked you to think about it over the next day or two, and if after that you still wanted to resign, I would accept it. You returned and again stated that you were certain you wanted to resign, and at that time I accepted it. Several days later, you asked to rescind that resignation, and I happily agreed. At NO point during any of these conversations did you mention ANY specific issues in Public Safety up to and including those currently in the media. In fact you did not make me aware of any issues until late January, early February when Matt and I asked to initiate an investigation. On April 1, 2019, you again submitted a resignation. On April 10, 2019 you sent an email stating you would be on leave from that day until June 1, 2019, but on April 12, 2019 you changed your mind and stated that you will be back in the office on April 15, 2019 working until May 1, 2019. On April 28, you changed your date to begin leave the following day on April 29, 2019 extending your final date to June 15, 2019. Two days later on April 30th, you asked to rescind a resignation. This week I’ve been made aware of a meeting you had in September with Jack Brown where you again discussed your dissatisfaction, and Jack talked you out of leaving at that time as well. With this totality of circumstance, I am not inclined to accept your desire to rescind your resignation. If you have any questions or if you wish to discuss this, please do not hesitate to give me a call at (850) 595-3936.

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Amy, Good morning and thank you for a response. While most of the statements are accurate, I will offer my impression for the record below within your narrative. That said, protecting the County from liabilities, as well its image are why these ‘issues’ were not brought forward on a public scale. Rest assured they were brought forward in some form/fashion along with a plan for action. That said, I respect your decision and authority as the County Administrator and humbly accept that decision. Can either yourself or anyone else please clarify with a response, that you approve of my request sent on Sunday to end employment 6/15/2019? I wish the County best success moving into the future, and appreciate the selection of Janice Gilley as County Administrator. I also apologize for any additional strain created by having a change of heart. This after considering the Board’s recent progressive/positive actions, hearing Ms. Gilley’s vision, countless employees support, and prayers from citizens of this County. Thank you again for your consideration and opportunity to serve. Rusty”