Chief Shannon began his public safety career in 1982 as an EMT/Paramedic. In 1988, he joined the Glendale Fire Department, where he advanced through the ranks to become Assistant Chief by 2004. During his tenure in Glendale, he oversaw Fire Operations, Logistics, and Major Event Planning.
In 2008, Shannon became the Fire Chief of Salt Lake City, Utah, where he implemented significant organizational and cultural changes within the Salt Lake City Fire Department. He returned to Arizona in 2009 to serve as Scottsdale’s Emergency Manager and was appointed Fire Chief in October 2012.
Tom Shannon pulled the 48/96 schedule from his members, citing safety concerns over call volume. But here’s the thing—call volume and duration wouldn’t be nearly as overwhelming if firefighters didn’t have to ride to the hospital on every single tummy hurts call.
Instead of pushing for more units at the busiest stations or addressing the real issues behind burnout, he chose the easy route—sacrificing a schedule his members valued. Rather than standing up for his firefighters, he seems more focused on protecting his comfortable retirement job.
Wish I could rate this guy lower, but I can’t. He is the worse Chief/leader I have ever worked for. He does not care about his members and has fired more firefighters than anyone else in the valley, during the same time frame.
Chief Shannon has done a lot of good for Scottsdale Fire. Since he took over, the department has just felt stronger with better morale, better direction, and real support from the top down.
One of the biggest changes was bringing our ambulance transport in-house. That move made a huge difference. Now we’ve got our own firefighters behind the wheel instead of fresh EMTs from private companies who barely knew the job or the city. It’s made things way safer for crews and the people we’re helping.
What really stands out about Chief Shannon is that he’s got our backs. He’s not just a guy behind a desk. He shows up and fights for us in front of city council every time it counts. Whether it’s staffing, gear, or pay, he goes to bat for the boots on the ground.
I heard a story at training from an older Glendale captain that says a lot about who Chief Shannon really is. Back when he was with Glendale Fire, he’d take holiday shifts for guys with families just so they could be home with their kids. No fanfare, no announcement. Just doing it because it was the right thing to do. That kind of thing sticks with you.
He’s also pushed for a ton of improvements. We’ve had station remodels, new stations getting built, better trucks and gear rolling in, and even a brand-new training yard. It’s clear he’s building something for the future, not just putting out fires in the present.
Even the small stuff, like letting us set up pickleball courts at the stations, shows he gets it. It’s honestly become a fun part of SFD culture. It helps with morale, brings crews together, and breaks up the day in a good way.
The one thing a lot of us still hope for is bringing back the 48/96. It was a big deal for family time and quality of life, and bringing it back would be something we’d all remember him for.
At the end of the day, Chief Shannon is the kind of leader this department needs. We’re lucky to have him leading the way.
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4 Reviews on “Tom Shannon”
Tom Shannon pulled the 48/96 schedule from his members, citing safety concerns over call volume. But here’s the thing—call volume and duration wouldn’t be nearly as overwhelming if firefighters didn’t have to ride to the hospital on every single tummy hurts call.
Instead of pushing for more units at the busiest stations or addressing the real issues behind burnout, he chose the easy route—sacrificing a schedule his members valued. Rather than standing up for his firefighters, he seems more focused on protecting his comfortable retirement job.
Can’t wait for him to retire.
Wish I could rate this guy lower, but I can’t. He is the worse Chief/leader I have ever worked for. He does not care about his members and has fired more firefighters than anyone else in the valley, during the same time frame.
Chief Shannon has done a lot of good for Scottsdale Fire. Since he took over, the department has just felt stronger with better morale, better direction, and real support from the top down.
One of the biggest changes was bringing our ambulance transport in-house. That move made a huge difference. Now we’ve got our own firefighters behind the wheel instead of fresh EMTs from private companies who barely knew the job or the city. It’s made things way safer for crews and the people we’re helping.
What really stands out about Chief Shannon is that he’s got our backs. He’s not just a guy behind a desk. He shows up and fights for us in front of city council every time it counts. Whether it’s staffing, gear, or pay, he goes to bat for the boots on the ground.
I heard a story at training from an older Glendale captain that says a lot about who Chief Shannon really is. Back when he was with Glendale Fire, he’d take holiday shifts for guys with families just so they could be home with their kids. No fanfare, no announcement. Just doing it because it was the right thing to do. That kind of thing sticks with you.
He’s also pushed for a ton of improvements. We’ve had station remodels, new stations getting built, better trucks and gear rolling in, and even a brand-new training yard. It’s clear he’s building something for the future, not just putting out fires in the present.
Even the small stuff, like letting us set up pickleball courts at the stations, shows he gets it. It’s honestly become a fun part of SFD culture. It helps with morale, brings crews together, and breaks up the day in a good way.
The one thing a lot of us still hope for is bringing back the 48/96. It was a big deal for family time and quality of life, and bringing it back would be something we’d all remember him for.
At the end of the day, Chief Shannon is the kind of leader this department needs. We’re lucky to have him leading the way.
-A Scottsdale Firefighter