By Hayes Hickman
The Knoxville News-Sentinel
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Stan Sharp said he wanted a more exciting, fulfilling career when he rethought his earlier plans to become a research scientist and, at the age of 36, joined the Knoxville Fire Department instead.
The excitement of the job was underscored Tuesday by a fire alarm call that suddenly emptied KFD’s downtown headquarters station on Summit Hill Drive, briefly interrupting Mayor Bill Haslam’s announcement outside of Sharp as Knoxville’s new fire chief.
“It seemed like it would be very rewarding, fulfilling ... something different every day — and it proved to be so,” said Sharp, who accepted the department’s top post 13 years after graduating from training as president of his recruitment class. “I don’t regret it at all. It’s been everything and more.
“I’m extremely honored, but also humbled by this appointment.”
Sharp, who currently serves as KFD’s safety officer, rose through the ranks from firefighter to captain before being promoted to assistant chief. He also holds a master’s degree in life sciences, with an emphasis in environmental toxicology, from the University of Tennessee.
Sharp will succeed Chief Bob Key, who decided to retire effective Sept. 1, nine months early. Key, 61, cited ongoing health issues of his wife, June, as reason for the departure after 34 years with KFD.
“It wasn’t an easy decision,” Key said. “The Knoxville Fire Department is a great asset for the citizens of Knoxville and I hope they realize that.”
Sharp is the third fire chief Haslam has appointed in his six years as mayor. He chose former Chief Carlos Perez to replace the retiring Ed Cureton after a national search for candidates in 2004. Perez’s management style and emphasis on terrorism response training, though, bumped heads with many department veterans and he retired after less than two years on the job. Haslam then chose Key from among 39 applicants for the chief’s position in 2006.
“He is a man of character,” Haslam said. “Chief Key always starts with the basics of the situation — ‘What’s the right thing to do?'  “
The mayor, announcing Sharp’s appointment, said the unpublicized search over the past few months was a much more informal one, which he attributed to his own experience as mayor.
He described the national search in 2004, conducted barely a year after Haslam was first elected, as “the responsible thing for me to do, to understand who all was out there in the market.”
Now in his second term, Haslam said, “I’m comfortable with the talent we have within the department. ... It’s different from when you’re starting from scratch. At this point I feel comfortable with making the decision.”
Sharp, who turns 50 before the end of the month, was chosen from among fewer than a dozen KFD captains and assistant chiefs, said Haslam, who also sought advice from Key and other senior departmental directors within the mayor’s administration.
“In the end, you have to base your decision on competency, judgment and their character, and I felt good about all those things with Stan,” the mayor said.
Sharp will receive an $87,000 annual salary. Haslam said he interviewed several candidates, both formally and informally, although he said he couldn’t recall exactly how many. Randy Kenner, city spokesman, said the mayor’s office refused to release the names of others who were considered for the position.
KFD Capt. Ted Dyer, vice president of the Knoxville Fire Fighters Association, said Sharp is well-liked within the department and well-educated.
“He’s got the qualifications — he’s probably got more education than anyone in the Fire Department,” Dyer said. “Stan’s a good guy and will probably be a good chief.”
Copyright 2009 The Knoxville News Sentinel