WALKER, Mich. -- A man with more than three decades of public safety experience will begin work as the City of Walker's new fire chief in July.
The city announced Monday that Russell Shoultz has been appointed to the position. He most recently was the Chief of Special Operations for the St. George Fire Department in Louisiana. Shoultz is planning to host some community open houses next month at the city's fire stations.
Former Fire Chief David Pelton left Walker last November to take a job with the Plainfield Township Fire Department.
Here is more information from a City of Walker news release:
The City of Walker is proud to announce the appointment of Russell Shoultz as its new Fire Chief, bringing with him over three decades of distinguished service in fire protection, emergency response, law enforcement, and public health. Chief Shoultz’s career reflects a lifelong commitment to public safety, and his broad experience will be instrumental in advancing the City of Walker’s priorities around quality of life and proactive emergency preparedness.
Chief Shoultz most recently served as Chief of Special Operations for the St. George Fire Department in Louisiana, supporting a population of more than 86,000 residents. His background also includes serving as Deputy Chief at the Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal, Fire Chief at Stennis International Airport, and multiple leadership roles in both fire and emergency medical services across Mississippi and Louisiana. A licensed nurse practitioner and veteran of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Coast Guard Reserves, Shoultz brings a unique depth of experience in crisis management, medical response, and public safety leadership.
“It is beyond humbling to have been selected as the Fire Chief for the City of Walker after the national recruitment effort”, said Chief Russell Shoultz. Shoultz went on to add “the amount of development going on in Walker creates a very exciting opportunity for the fire department. I cannot wait to get to know the community members and be part of Walker's exciting future.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Chief Shoultz to Walker,” said Mayor Gary Carey. “His extensive background aligns perfectly with our city’s focus on safety, responsiveness, and community well-being. We’re confident he will lead our fire department with distinction and help ensure Walker remains a great place to live, work, and grow.”
Shoultz will officially start in his role with the City of Walker sometime in July. He plans to host community open houses at the three fire stations to get to know members of the community, with those dates and times forthcoming.
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