Virgil Fernandez, a 23-year veteran of Miami's Fire-Rescue Department, will lead Hollywood's Fire-Rescue Department starting June 1.
Fernandez edged out three Hollywood fire-rescue candidates to become the city's new fire chief.
Hollywood's former fire chief, Edward J. Moran, left in January to become fire chief of the town of Palm Beach.
During the past six years, Fernandez has worked as Miami's assistant chief and fire marshal. He oversaw more than $15 billion dollars in redevelopment and new construction projects within the city.
Hollywood is in a redevelopment mode and Fernandez's experience will ensure that issues such as permitting run smoothly, said City Manager Cameron Benson.
''He is a natural-born leader,'' Benson said. ''I was very impressed with his background.''
Fernandez will be paid $126,000 a year.
SHORT LIST
In February, Hollywood's Human Resources Department narrowed the list of candidates to eight.
In addition toFernandez, the candidates were Charles F. Barbera, a Hollywood division chief; Lamar W. Davis, a Hollywood division chief; Kevin James McGee, an assistant fire chief in Prince William County, Va.; Robert D. Metzger, deputy fire chief in Toledo, Ohio; Charles G. Middleton, a deputy fire chief in Orange County, Fla.; Charles U. Phillips, former fire chief in Miami-Dade County; and Joseph P. Rohan, Hollywood's interim fire chief.
RANKED NO. 1
A committee of city officials, area fire chiefs and a fire union representative, ranked Fernandez first among the candidates. Benson made the final decision.
''He has the desire to be the best chief he can be for the city of Hollywood,'' Benson said.
Distributed by the Associated Press
