Meet the Staff

Emergency Services > Fire Rescue Department > Meet the Staff

Jack K. McElfish

Chief

Fire Chief Jack K. McElfish has been with the City of Sandy Springs since July of 2006. He has more than 40 years experience in the fire service beginning with the U.S. Air Force in Ramstein, Germany and Montgomery County, Md. He has served as a Fire Chief in Wallingford, Conn.; Clayton County, Ga.; Richmond, Va, and Gwinnett County, Ga. Chief McElfish holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Fire Science Administration and a M.S. degree in Public Administration from the University of New Haven, Conn. He has also completed the National Fire Academy Executive Development III and Hazardous Materials III courses plus many other leadership and management programs. Chief McElfish was one of the first 12 fire chiefs in 2000 to receive the coveted Designated Chief Fire Officer by the Center for Public Safety Excellence. In 1989, Chief McElfish was selected by the International Society of Fire Service Instructors as its Instructor of the Year. In 2008, he was named as the Southestern Association of Fire Chiefs "Fire Chief of the Year" and in 2010 was awarded the American Heart Association's "Mission Award". He serves on the Board of Directors of the International Association of Fire Chiefs representing the Southeasten Association of Fire Chiefs.

Jeff Scarbrough

Deputy Chief, Fire Marshal

Chief Scarbrough has been with the City of Sandy Springs since October of 2006. He had 26 years of service with the Clayton County Fire Department before coming to Sandy Springs Fire Rescue. Scarbrough served as Fire Marshal with Clayton County from 1998 to 2006 overseeing inspections, plans review, education, fire investigation and coordinating information technology. He also served as Deputy Chief of Support Services with Clayton County Fire Department prior to that. Scarbrough has a Fire Science Degree from DeKalb College and is an Executive Fire Officer graduate from the National Fire Academy. He is a Certified Emergency Manager and currently working on a Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency Management from Jacksonville State University. Chief Scarbrough is a former Georgia State Firefighter Association Firefighter of the Year.

Mark Duke

Assitant Chief , Training Support Services

Chief Mark Duke started with Sandy Springs Fire Rescue in December 2006 at Station 2 as a shift crew chief before being promoted to his current position in October 2009. He has 23 years of service with the Jefferson Fire Department, where he worked through the ranks and served as Assistant Chief. Additionally, he worked with Jackson County Emergency Services for 15 years and when he left there he was the Division Chief-Deputy EMA Director over rescue services, emergency management and homeland security before coming to Sandy Springs. He has an associate’s degree in Fire Science from Lanier College and is a certified emergency manager. Chief Duke is also a paramedic and holds many other “National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications” certifications.

Melinda Carter

Administrative Assistant

Melinda Carter has been with the City of Sandy Springs since September 2006. She recently retired from Cobb County government after 30 years of service in June 2006. She is a graduate of Sprayberry High School in Marietta.

David Adams

Fire Protection Engineer

David Adams has 10 years of experience overseeing the regulatory review and jurisdictional responsibilities for 16,000 state of Georgia owned buildings. He is an ICC Certified Fire Code Official and is a Chief Fire Officer, (CFOD) from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. David has served as a licensed architect in the private sector for 10 years. Adams is a graduate of the University of Florida and Ohio State University.

James E. Curry

Battalion Commander

James E. Curry has more than 23 years’ experience in the fire services starting with Atlanta Fire-Rescue Department. He worked there 12 years and was promoted to lieutenant. He later worked for Fulton County Fire Department for 11 years and while there, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and captain. He attended Shorter College and received an associate’s degree in business management and is expected to receive his bachelor’s degree in management by May 2007.

Douglas Hickin

Battalion Commander

Douglas Hickin has 29 years of fire service experience. The last 24 were in an accredited metro agency in Charlotte, N.C. His last position was battalion chief in the rapidly growing south Charlotte region. He has an associates degree in Fire Protection and extensive experience and training throughout the fire ser

Guy “Chip” Possinger

Battalion Commander

Chip Possinger has more than 20 years’ experience in the fire service. Chip began his career by enlisting in the U.S. Air Force as a fire protection specialist. He was a firefighter with the City of East Point, Ga, for 10 years. He then spent eight years with the Fulton County Fire Department, where he was promoted to the rank of captain, training officer and station captain. Chip attends Lanier Technical College where he is expected to complete his A.A. in Fire Science Technology by July 2007. Chip is also a certified paramedic with numerous other fire service certifications.

Daryl E. Smith

Battalion Commander

Battalion Chief Daryl Smith graduated Joseph E. Brown High School in Atlanta in 1972. He served in the US Navy aboard the aircraft carrier USS Independence CV-62 from 1972 to 1975 and is a Vietnam-era veteran. He started his fire service career in May 1977 with the City of East Point Fire Department and retired on April 30, 2006, after 29 years of service and became a member of Sandy Springs Fire Rescue in December 2006. He holds an Associate in Applied Science degree from DeKalb College in Fire Science Technology and a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management with a major in Public Safety Administration from Ashford University. He has been designated as a Chief Fire Officer (CFOD) from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) and Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) and has obtained his member status of the Institution of Fire Engineers (MIFireE). He is an active member of Ashford University’s Alpha Lambda Chapter of Alpha Sigma Lambda (ASL) National Honor Society.

Manuel “Manny” Trujillo

Battalion Commander

Manny Trujillo has been with the fire services for 26 years. He started with the City of Atlanta in 1980. He holds a bachelor’s degree in science. He became a lieutenant in 1986, made captain in 1993 and was appointed battalion chief in 1995. He managed one of the busiest battalions in Atlanta for more than 10 years.

Ronald “Ronny” Thomas

Battalion Commander

Ronny Thomas retired from Gwinnett County Fire Department on Dec. 1, 2006, after 30 years of service, the last 17 years as a battalion chief in the Norcross area.