Anniston, AL – The City of Anniston has announced the appointment of Johnnie F. Phelps Jr. as the new Fire Chief for the Anniston Fire Department, effective August 13, 2025. The decision was made by City Manager Skyler Bass, who noted Phelps’ leadership record, dedication, and long-standing service to the community as key factors in the selection.
Phelps has served with the Anniston Fire Department for 24 years, working his way through every rank, including frontline firefighter, Training Chief, and most recently, Operations Chief. His career highlights include leading advanced training initiatives, overseeing daily operations, and fostering community engagement programs.
In addition to his operational experience, Phelps holds an Associate of Science degree and is pursuing a Bachelor’s in Fire Administration. He serves as an adjunct instructor at the Alabama Fire College, where he teaches more than a dozen certification courses to aspiring firefighters.
During his time as Training Chief, Phelps launched a high school fire science program that now partners with nine local schools, aimed at preparing students for careers in emergency services. He also played a central role in developing and managing the Anniston Regional Training Center, which attracts firefighter trainees from across the country and internationally.
Phelps’ leadership approach focuses on community safety, innovation in training, and operational excellence. He succeeds the late Fire Chief Jeff Waldrep, whose philosophy of “Leave it better than you found it” continues to guide the department.
Outside of his professional duties, Phelps is married to Summer Phelps, a local nurse practitioner. They have four children and two grandchildren. In his personal time, he enjoys supporting his youngest son’s track competitions and spending time with his family. The City of Anniston expressed confidence in Phelps’ ability to lead the fire department into its next chapter, citing his deep community roots and commitment to professional growth.
The Calhoun Journal spoke with Chief Phelps about his becoming Anniston Fire Chief. Chief Phelps started by first reflecting on Chief Waldrep, who passed away in June, “He was a wonderful mentor and boss. I will never be able to replace him but hope I can live up to the expectation I know he had for me and the department.” Chief Phelps also advised that his experiences within his fire career have made him the person he is today. He was a paramedic for twenty-two years, was the Training Chief throughout the development of the Anniston Regional Fire Training Center and helped create strategic change with the creation of the Operations Chief.
We asked the Chief what direction he sees going forward and Chief Phelps response was, “I would put Anniston Fire Department up against any other department. We need leadership to continue to support their mission with equipment, competitive pay, training, unity, and every other need that arises. I plan to prioritize them, so they are the best equipped to serve our citizens with courage, fidelity, protection, and honor.”
Chief Phelps also stated, “I man looking forward to having the opportunity to get more directly involved with the community and learning new ways the department can serve them.”
He concluded by saying, “This is bittersweet. I’m excited and sad. I will work as hard as humanly possible to make the citizens of Anniston and the Anniston Fire Department members proud.
