ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — Sean McGee, a 25-year veteran of the St. Johns County Fire Rescue, was unanimously approved on Tuesday by county commissioners as the new fire chief.
McGee has served St. Johns County Fire Rescue as a firefighter, engineer, lieutenant, captain and spent the last 11 years as battalion chief.
“Sean McGee puts the safety of his team and the community before himself," said St. Johns County Administrator Joy Andrews. "My family feels safer in St. Johns County because of him, his leadership and the team he has assembled."
Andrews added that McGee's achievements and leadership throughout the county superseded the original plan to survey other potential candidates nationwide.
St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick also commended McGee's move to fire chief.
"There is no one more qualified for this position; Chief McGee is a phenomenal man in his professional and personal life, and his continued leadership is great news for St. Johns County Fire Rescue. I look forward to our partnership in public safety," Hardwick said.
McGee's appointment comes after former fire chief Scott Bullard left his post in October.
Bullard served as fire chief for less than five months and was with the department for 22 years. He told First Coast News in October he was "forced to resign" arguing he was a victim of "cleaning house" because he was hired by the previous county commissioner in May 2023.
County documents showed the county's concerns over Bullard's leadership during Hurricane Idalia and the removal of vacation time for employees who ran out of sick leave.
Bullard’s personnel file included complaints from the St. Johns County firefighters union regarding decisions Bullard made while he was fire chief, including changes to uniforms that were called "unsafe."
Bullard said the union and county agreed on the uniform changes, and argued he was directed to make changes to sick leave policies.
