Elrich to appoint former Alexandria fire chief to lead fire department

Lina PortmanMay 30, 2024

0 1 minute read

Corey Smedley. Photo via Montgomery County.

Corey Smedley will be the candidate to lead the Montgomery County Fire Department as its next chief.

County Executive Marc Elrich will formally announce his appointment Thursday, according to the county.

Smedley previously served as fire chief for the city of Alexandria, Virginia, and retired in January of this year. He also previously served as deputy fire chief for Prince George's County.

Former Fire Chief Scott Goldstein retired from the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Department (MCFRS) in the summer of 2023 after eight years as chief. Last November, Elrich nominated MCFRS division head Charles Bailey for the position, but the nomination failed, with Elrich saying in March that there was not enough support within the county council to go moving forward with Bailey's nomination.

The candidate must be approved by the county council before assuming the position.

According to Montgomery County, Smedley has more than 33 years of fire service experience following his time in the Military Reserves. As the City of Alexandria Fire Chief, Smedley “prioritized community engagement by building strong partnerships and aligning community expectations with department priorities.”