October 25, 2017
CONTACT: Lindsey Wiles
Communications Manager
lwiles@mariettaga.gov
770.794.5509
MARIETTA – On Wednesday, October 25, 2017, the City of Marietta announced that after over forty years of service to the City and its citizen, Marietta Fire Department’s Chief Jackie Gibbs will leave the office on December 1, 2017.
“It is with mixed emotions that I announce my retirement from the City of Marietta Fire Department,” said Chief Gibbs. “It has been my great pleasure to serve the citizens of Marietta for over forty years, eighteen of those as Fire Chief. With the great support of the City Manager, Mayor and Council I believe that Marietta Fire is one of the best fire departments in Georgia and is positioned to remain a great fire department doing great work for Marietta. The support I have received from the fine employees of the city working together to accomplish the mission will always be a part of my memories. Thank you to one and all.”
Chief Gibbs embarked upon his career of public service on August 11, 1977 at the spritely age of just 19 years old. As a graduate of the Marietta City School System, Chief Gibbs has steadfastly served the community that raised him. Chief Gibbs received his Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering Technology and an Associate Degree in Fire Science Technology from Southern Polytechnic State University. He served as served as Marietta’s Fire Marshal from 1987 to 1999 and was appointed Marietta Fire Chief in December 1999.
Chief Gibbs has been active on the local, state, federal and international level of the fire service for most of his lengthy career. He has served as a point of contact for the City with the Georgia State Legislature as one of the City’s lobbyists to protect Marietta’s interest on the state level. Chief Gibbs served on the International Association of Fire Chiefs Board of Directors from 2004-2007. Additionally, he served as the Treasurer of the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs Board of Directors, served on the Cobb County Commission on Children and Youth Board of Directors, and was the Fire and Life Safety Section (IAFC) International Director from 2004-2007. Chief Gibbs served on the NFPA Life Safety Code Technical Correlating Committee and the Standard Building Code Congress as Chair of the Fire Code Action Committee. He served on the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs and chaired the Fire Code Development Committee and served on the Georgia Municipal Association’s Public Safety Committee. He currently sits on the International Code Council Fire Service Membership Council and was appointed to the Georgia Firefighters Standards and Training Council by Governor Nathan Deal.
During the course of his career, Chief Gibbs was recognized in 2001 for fire code development with the Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs H.D. Crossnine Award. In 2004, he received the Georgia Governors Public Safety Award from Governor Sonny Perdue, the International Code Council Fire Official of the Year Award, and the Georgia Fire Chiefs Association Fire Chief of the Year.
Specifically related to the betterment of the City of Marietta, Chief Gibbs spearheaded the passage of the City Fire Sprinkler ordinance in 1989 which improved the safety of all buildings constructed after the ordinance was passed. Through his guidance, Chief Gibbs led the Marietta Fire Department through the process of obtaining the highly coveted Class 1 Designation from the Insurance Service Office. Less than 1% of the 48,000 fire departments across the country have a Class 1 Designation. He has led the charge to maintain the replacement and upgrade all fire apparatus owned by the department. Chief Gibbs worked tirelessly to pave the way for Fire Department’s purchase of the property on Sawyer Road for the future Station 56 and state of the art training facility.
“I, along with all City employees and members of the Fire Department would like to congratulate Chief Gibbs on his retirement after over forty years of service with the City,” said City Manager Bill Bruton. “Chief Gibbs has been Marietta’s Fire Chief since before I became City Manager and served the City for 22 years prior to becoming Chief. I will personally miss the daily friendship we have fostered and enjoyed these last 18 years, but take comfort in knowing he will still be an active member of our community. The City of Marietta will miss the knowledge, expertise, and guidance of Chief Gibbs, but I am confident in our department knowing the excellent quality of employees he has hired and trained throughout his tenure with the City.”
Chief Gibbs and his wife Barbara reside in Marietta, Georgia and are the proud parents of Jaclyn Bell, son in law Nick Bell and granddaughter Avery.