New Spring Hill fire chief V. Graig Temple replaces Hood after termination

The City of Spring Hill’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen welcomed V. Graig Temple as the city’s new fire chief during a recent Spring Hill BOMA meeting at City Hall.

Replacing the acting chief, Kevin Glenn, Temple comes with extensive fire department and emergency management experience from three states.

Previous full-time chief Terry Hood was suddenly terminated in March due to "poor record-keeping" and danger of liability, according to an announcement at the time by Spring Hill City Administrator Pam Caskie. He served the city for eight and a half years.

After Hood's termination, Glenn was named as temporary fire chief.

Most recently, Temple was chief of emergency medical services at Fort Bend County, Texas, where he directed 167 employees in four divisions: administration, operations, finance/logistics, and training. He is credited with expanding EMS resources, decreasing response times, and increasing operational efficiencies during his nearly seven-year tenure there.

Previously, Temple was assistant fire chief in charge of operations in Anchorage, Alaska, where he coordinated the operations of a fire department with 330 firefighters in 14 stations. Nine battalion chiefs reported to him in this role.

“After a thorough search, we have found the right person to be Spring Hill’s new fire chief,” said Spring Hill Mayor Jim Hagaman. “His experience, training and record of leadership in demanding roles got our attention.”

Earlier in his career, Temple served as lieutenant and chief in separate volunteer fire departments in Texas and Delaware.

Glenn, did not seek the full-time chief’s role. He returns to his previous role as Deputy Fire Chief.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: New Spring Hill fire chief V. Graig Temple sworn in