Assistant Chief Richard Heard (ret.) served as a member of the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department (AFRD) for 30 years, from January 1991 to May 2021. He joined AFRD as a Firefighter/EMT, progressing through the organization to Training Captain and Assistant Chief for AFRD's Technical Services Division, specifically Training, Logistics & Fleet Services and Facilities Management.
Heard was involved with the major renovation of existing AFRD fire facilities and the design and construction of new fire facilities within the department, most recently, Fire Station #3, placed in service in December 2018.
Chief Heard has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from Western Governors University, as well as numerous certifications, including National Fire Academy Management Science Program, National Professional Qualifications (Pro Board) certification as an NPQ Instructor III and NPQ Evaluator, and a NIMS Instructor.
Since retiring, Chief Heard started HW Professional Group LLC, a specialty consulting team that provides facilities design and construction solutions to the municipal and public safety sectors of government agencies. He continues to maintain professional affiliations with the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs, and the National Fire Protection Association.