A-Shift

A-Shift is one of four duty tours under the Operations Bureau, operating on a 24/72 schedule and staffing 31 fire stations across Anne Arundel County. Each shift begins at 7:00 am and concludes at 7:00 am the following day. A-Shift is commanded by Shift Commander, Division Chief Chuck Jester, Battalion Chief 1 - BC Jay Cornell, Battalion Chief 2 - BC Jake Callard, Battalion Chief 3 - BC Shawn Jones, and Battalion Chief 4 - BC Kris Hall. They lead 9 Captains, 36 Lieutenants, 43 Chauffeurs, 42 Paramedic/Firefighters, 85 E.M.T./Firefighters, and 8 Fire Communications Operators daily. These members staff our Ambulances, Paramedic Units, Fire Engines, Rescue Squads, Ladder Trucks, Towers, Tankers, and Fire Dispatch Center. This team works cohesively to provide EMS, Fire, Rescue, Special Operations, and Marine response to emergency incidents while on duty.

A-Shift prides itself on “OPERATIONAL READINESS,” prioritizing training every tour of duty, regardless of incident volume, weather, routine responsibilities, apparatus maintenance, building inspections, and other scheduled activities. Training is the foundation of the fire service, and mastery of skill sets is needed to provide emergency response and mitigation to our community.

A-Shift had a busy 2025 with a steady call volume and several "working fires," all of which were handled in an outstanding manner by our team of Firefighters and EMS Clinicians.

2025 was a year marked by several personnel promotions and reassignments. These transitions required countless hours of On-The-Job Training (OJT) and mentoring to ensure our members thrived in their new roles and responsibilities. We extended a warm welcome to our new team members and wished them the best in their new positions. We also bid farewell to our "Senior" Battalion Chief, BC Michael Smith, who was reassigned as the Operational Performance Chief to establish Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement processes within the Operations Bureau. In his place, we welcomed BC Jay Cornell, who previously oversaw Special Operations for several years. We are confident that Chief Cornell will be a valuable asset to our "A" Shift Command Team. The Shift also welcomed 18 new "Probie" firefighters who graduated from Recruit Class 65 in November. They are currently participating in the field OJT phase of their initial fire department training. These new firefighters have adapted well to firehouse life, and we remain committed to supporting their growth and development within this demanding profession.

-Chief Jester