A new fire chief will be taking the reins in Mount Airy Nov. 30.

City Manager Don Brookshire announced late Monday afternoon that Charles “Chip” Emery Osborne III has been hired as the new chief of the Mount Airy Fire Department, effective Nov. 30.

Osborne has an extensive 24-year history in the fire service.

From 1994 through 2009, he served the Department of Community Colleges with Davidson County Community College as regional fire and rescue director, Area IV. He was responsible for assisting with training in a multi-county area. He has served as coordinator of Fire and Rescue Services for Davidson County Community College; firefighter/EMT with the High Point Fire Department; fire equipment operator/lieutenant with the Thomasville Fire Department; and sales engineer with Eagle Air Systems.

“Chip has very strong skills in the educational aspect of the position. I also think that he will be a good communicator both with the department and the public,” Brookshire said in a news release.

Osborne has an Associate in Applied Science in fire protection technology from Guilford Technical Community College; a Bachelor of Science in biology from Gardner-Webb University; attended the North Carolina Community College Leadership Program in 1999; and numerous continuing education hours in the fields of fire, rescue and EMS.

He was born and raised in Pleasant Garden and has a 16-year-old daughter, Lauren Greigh Osborne.

“It is a privilege to be selected as fire chief for the city of Mount Airy,” Osborne said. “I believe in having a sense of community and helping people.”

He described himself as aggressive, progressive and disciplined along with enthusiastic and loyal and said he has a lot of energy and likes to work together to get things done.

Osborne plans to work with the department and community to set goals and objectives that the department and city can be proud to endorse.

“I love the area and am very excited to come to Mount Airy,” Osborne said.

Osborne is filling the vacany left following the retirement of Benny Brannock, who had worked for the Mount Airy Fire Department in several capacities since 1981 and was a fourth-generation members of the Mount Airy Fire Department. He retired Oct. 1 and had served as fire chief since April 2002.