Barry Glisson

Interim Fire Chief

Barry Glisson currently serves as the Assistant Chief and Chief of Staff for the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department, bringing over 29 years of combined fire, EMS, and emergency management experience. A lifelong Mobilian, Chief Glisson grew up in the city and graduated from Murphy High School in 1993. His passion for public safety was inspired early on by his father, who served with the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department. A U.S. Coast Guard veteran, Chief Glisson began his public safety career in 1993 while stationed in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, volunteering with the Hatteras Island Rescue Squad and Avon Volunteer Fire Department while serving his country.

Following eight years as a paramedic—four of which were in flight operations—with Dare County EMS in North Carolina, Chief Glisson joined Mobile Fire-Rescue in 2004. Over the next two decades, he advanced through the ranks as Firemedic, Fire Service Driver, Captain, District Chief, and now Assistant Chief. He has served in critical roles spanning suppression, training, strategic planning, and accreditation. As Training Captain and later Strategic Planning Captain, he played a pivotal role in implementing advanced technologies including ImageTrend, Vector Solutions, and ArcGIS-based inspection systems.

A recognized leader in disaster response, Chief Glisson is the Program Manager for Alabama Task Force One (AL-TF1), having deployed to numerous large-scale incidents including Hurricanes Harvey, Florence, Dorian, Laura, Debby, Helen, and Milton, as well as the 2011 Alabama tornadoes. His deployment experience includes roles as Task Force Leader, Planning Manager, Rescue Technician, Logistics Specialist, and Communications Specialist.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Fire Administration from Columbia Southern University and is certified as a Fire Officer IV, FEMA Task Force Leader, and NREMT Paramedic, among many other credentials. Chief Glisson is also an adjunct instructor with the Alabama Fire College. His contributions have helped Mobile Fire-Rescue achieve its first-ever ISO Class 1 rating and earn dual accreditations through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) and the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS).

Chief Glisson is committed to public service, continuous improvement, and building strong teams dedicated to the safety of the Mobile community.