Leadership and Innovation in the Roswell Fire Department, with Chief Joe Pennino (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 845)
In this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray speaks with Chief Joe Pennino of the Roswell Fire Department. Chief Pennino shares insights on leadership lessons that can be applied in various business sectors, discussing his career journey and the significant transitions at the Roswell Fire Department. The conversation highlights the shift from part-time to full-time staffing, the innovative measures implemented for firefighter health and safety, and the importance of vision and communication in leadership. Additionally, the episode explores how Chief Pennino fosters a culture of transparency and trust while addressing the mental and emotional well-being of firefighters. The discussion also touches on the broader challenges and innovations within public safety and government organizations.
John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is recorded and produced by the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.
Dr. Joe Pennino, DPA, EFO, CFO, MIFireE, PMP
Dr. Joe Pennino is a seasoned public safety leader, educator, consultant, and leadership coach with over two decades of experience in fire service, emergency management, and public administration. Since 2021, he has served as the Fire Chief and Emergency Manager for the City of Roswell, GA, leading a department of more than 150 personnel and managing a $17 million budget to enhance public safety and community resilience.
Under Dr. Pennino’s leadership, the Roswell Fire Department was recently honored with the 2025 Senator Paul S. Sarbanes Fire Service Safety Leadership Award for its groundbreaking research on the effects of shift schedules and adjusted start times on firefighter performance and well-being. This study, conducted in collaboration with researchers, aims to improve firefighter health by addressing sleep quality, reducing fatigue, and enhancing long-term wellness. The award, presented at the 35th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner in Washington, DC, recognizes departments that make significant contributions to firefighter safety and health.
Prior to his tenure in Roswell, Dr. Pennino was Deputy Fire Chief in Largo, Florida, where he oversaw the department’s five operational divisions and played a pivotal role in modernizing emergency medical services, data-driven decision-making, and intergovernmental coordination. His diverse career includes experience as a hazmat technician, SWAT medic, flight medic, and emergency management coordinator, providing him with a broad perspective on crisis response and strategic leadership.
Beyond his operational leadership, Dr. Pennino is an educator, consultant, and leadership coach. He teaches in both the Fire Administration bachelor’s and Doctor of Public Administration programs at Liberty University, mentoring future public safety and government leaders. He also provides leadership coaching for professionals seeking to enhance their strategic thinking, team development, and personal effectiveness.
Dr. Pennino holds a Doctorate in Public Administration from Valdosta State University and a Master’s in Public Policy from Liberty University. He is a Project Management Professional (PMP) certified by the Project Management Institute and holds professional designations including Executive Fire Officer (EFO), Chief Fire Officer (CFO), and Member of the Institution of Fire Engineers (MIFireE), reflecting his commitment to lifelong learning and excellence in leadership.
A strong advocate for data-driven governance, organizational efficiency, and leadership development, Dr. Pennino continues to shape the future of public safety and professional leadership through innovation, strategic planning, and coaching.
Roswell Fire Department, Roswell, Georgia
The Roswell Fire Department, located in Roswell, Georgia, is a progressive, ISO Class 2 all-hazards agency dedicated to providing comprehensive public safety services. The department operates out of seven fire stations, a separate fire headquarters, and the Roswell-Alpharetta Public Safety Training Center (RAPSTC). The department’s apparatus includes seven fire engines, two ladder trucks, a heavy/technical rescue truck, two rescue ambulances, and one Battalion Chief/Incident Command vehicle, all of which are Advanced Life Support (ALS) capable and staffed with paramedics.
The Roswell Fire Department offers a wide range of services, including fire suppression, emergency medical services (EMS), technical rescue, and public education. The technical rescue services encompass swift water rescue, motor vehicle and machinery rescue, rope rescue, trench rescue, collapse rescue, confined space rescue, and hazardous materials response. The department’s commitment to excellence is reflected in its ISO Class 2 rating, which places it among only 84 departments in Georgia and 2,200 departments nationwide with an ISO rating of 2 or better. This rating indicates that the department provides excellent fire protection services to the community.
The department has received several notable awards and recognitions for its outstanding performance. Recently, it was selected to receive the Senator Paul S. Sarbanes Fire Service Safety Leadership Award for its collaborative study on the effects of shift schedules and start times on firefighter health and performance. Additionally, two members of the department were honored with Life Saving Valor Awards by Governor Brian Kemp during Firefighter Recognition Day in 2024. These recognitions highlight the Roswell Fire Department’s dedication to innovative practices, firefighter safety, and excellence in fire protection services. The department continues to strive for improvement, maintaining its high standards while adapting to the evolving needs of the community it serves.
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Topics Discussed in this Episode
00:00 Introduction and Welcome to North Fulton Business Radio
00:40 Guest Introduction: Chief Joe Pennino
02:01 Chief Pennino’s Career and the Roswell Fire Department
07:03 Leadership Lessons from Chief Pennino
11:09 Managing Change in the Fire Department
20:43 Innovations in Firefighter Health and Safety
31:24 Public Perception and Community Engagement
36:53 Closing Remarks and Resources
Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio
Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with over $17 billion in assets and more than 180 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices throughout the region. All of Renasant’s success stems from each banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way to better understand the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.
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About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray
With over 800 shows and having featured over 1,200 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!
The show invites a diverse range of business, non-profit, and community leaders to share their significant contributions to their market, community, and profession. There’s no discrimination based on company size, and there’s never any “pay to play.” North Fulton Business Radio supports and celebrates business by sharing positive business stories that traditional media ignore. Some media lean left. Some media lean right. We lean business.
John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is recorded and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.
The studio address is 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.
John Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants and bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.
John is the national bestselling author of The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices.
