Words and Images Courtesy of the City of Williamsburg
Williamsburg, VA – Williamsburg Fire Chief Larry Snyder Jr. is pleased to announce the hire of
Brian Phillips as deputy fire chief for the City of Williamsburg Fire Department.
Phillips was chosen after a nationwide recruitment and selection process. He began his new
role Monday, May 8, 2023, succeeding Snyder, who was promoted to fire chief in November
2022.
Phillips served with the Virginia Beach Fire Department for 20 years, rising to the rank of
battalion chief/paramedic overseeing the operations of seven fire companies in four stations.
For the past 12 years, he has been a member of the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Team
(VATF-2) as a safety officer. Phillips began his career in fire and EMS service with the York
County Department of Fire & Life Safety.
Phillips is a registered nurse with an associate degree in nursing from Excelsior College, an
associate degree in emergency health services from the College of Health Sciences, a
bachelor’s degree in EMS management from Hampton University, and a Master of Public
Administration degree from Liberty University.
“Deputy Chief Phillips rose through the ranks of the Virginia Beach Fire Department, gathering a
wealth of experience in both operations and administration,” Snyder said. “As we transition to a
new state-of-the-art fire station this fall and continue to develop to meet future demands, our
department and the Williamsburg community will benefit from the knowledge and expertise of
Deputy Chief Phillips.”
As deputy fire chief, Phillips will assist the fire chief in the planning, direction, and
implementation of policies, operating procedures, and guidelines for fire suppression,
community risk reduction, emergency medical services, and emergency management. He will
serve as the deputy coordinator for emergency management and assume responsibility for the
department in the absence of the fire chief.
“It is an honor to join the ranks of a fire department so committed to excellent public service,”
Phillips said. “I have lived in the Greater Williamsburg area for nearly 20 years, and I am excited
by the opportunity to serve my neighbors as deputy fire chief of the Williamsburg Fire
Department.”