Personnel Standards & Education Commission

Chair

Scott F. Pilgreen

Chair Scott F. Pilgreen, began his career in law enforcement at Montgomery Police Department in 1979. While at MPD he served in the p...

Chair Scott F. Pilgreen, began his career in law enforcement at Montgomery Police Department in 1979. While at MPD he served in the patrol, investigative, and training divisions. He joined the State Fire Marshal’s Office in 1989 as a Deputy State Fire Marshal and was promoted to Assistant State Fire Marshal in 2006. Pilgreen is a 2002 graduate of the FBI National Academy, Session 210; a 2009 graduate of the Certified Public Manager Program and a 2015 Columbia Southern University graduate with a B.S degree in Criminal Justice. Governor Bentley appointed him to the Alabama Energy and Residential Code Council in March 2016. State Fire Marshal appointed by State Legislation.
Current Term Expires: No Expiration Date.
Email: spilgreen@alabamafirecollege.org

Vice-Chair

Brandy Williams

Vice Chair Brandy Williams represents the Alabama Association of Fire Chiefs. She began her fire service career in 1995 with Mo...

Vice Chair Brandy Williams represents the Alabama Association of Fire Chiefs. She began her fire service career in 1995 with Moore's Mill Volunteer Fire Department. She was then hired by Madison Fire & Rescue in 1998 where she has served as Deputy Chief since 2016. She has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration/Emergency Services Management from Columbia Southern University and completed the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy in 2019. She has been a member of the North Alabama Fire Chief’s Association since 2016 and currently serves as the President.
Current Term Expires: 2/11/2026
Email: bwilliams@alabamafirecollege.org

Josh Bryant

Commissioner Josh Bryant was appointed to the Commission in 2022 by the Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Departments. He began i...

Commissioner Josh Bryant was appointed to the Commission in 2022 by the Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Departments. He began in the fire service as an Explorer, then Telecommunicator before serving 16 years at Fultondale Fire and Rescue and attaining the rank of Captain. Bryant currently serves on the Fultondale City Council, as an active board member of several fire service organizations and associations, and as the Fire Marshal at Glennwood Fire District. He served as an Adjunct Instructor for the Alabama Fire College from 2010 until his appointment to the Commission and was recognized as Instructor of the Year in 2014. Bryant holds Associate Degrees from Jefferson State in Fire Science and Health Science; a Bachelors Degree from Athens State University in Public Safety and Health Administration; and a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Alabama.
Current Term Expires: 7/13/2026
Email: jbryant@alabamafirecollege.org

Lance Byrd

Appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in 2025, Commissioner Lance Byrd has dedicated his life to public service and community engagement. His passion f...

Appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in 2025, Commissioner Lance Byrd has dedicated his life to public service and community engagement. His passion for firefighting began in 1985 when he started volunteering as an Explorer with Montevallo Fire and Rescue and later Dogwood Fire Department, after witnessing a devastating fire on the family farm. In 1990, he started working at Pelham Fire Department where he served for eight and a half years before returning to the family farm where he currently serves as Vice President. Today, he continues his service as Assistant Chief at Montevallo Fire and Rescue, marking four decades of volunteer firefighting. A dedicated paramedic, he was awarded his Master level InVEST challenge coin by the Alabama Fire College. Throughout the years, he earned numerous accolades including 1997 Shelby County Paramedic of the Year, 2009 Montevallo Firefighter of the Year, and was the 2023 S.M. Mahan Dedicated Service Award recipient. Additionally, he was awarded the 2003 Alabama Outstanding Young Farm Family by the Alabama Farmers Federation. Lance also serves on the Shelby County 911 Board, Shelby County Farmers Federation Board, and is Chairman of the State Nursery Greenhouse and Sod Board among others.

William Lipscomb

Commissioner William J. Lipscomb, currently serving as Battalion Chief for the City of Birmingham Fire & Rescue Service Department, h...

Commissioner William J. Lipscomb, currently serving as Battalion Chief for the City of Birmingham Fire & Rescue Service Department, has extensive experience in emergency services management. Prior to this, Lipscomb served as Captain for the BFRS EMS division and for Station 8. His career began in private sector roles, including Director of Support Services at American Medical Response and Vice President of Operations at CareLine Alabama. Lipscomb holds an associate degree in fire science and a bachelor’s degree in business management, alongside numerous credentials such as National Registered EMT and Paramedic Instructor. He remains committed to professional development and community engagement in his field. Current term expires: 5/6/2028.
Email: wlipscomb@alabamafirecollege.org

Matt Missildine

Commissioner Matt Missildine was appointed to the Commission in 2025 by the Lieutenant Governor. He began his career in the fire ser...

Commissioner Matt Missildine was appointed to the Commission in 2025 by the Lieutenant Governor. He began his career in the fire service in 1993 as a volunteer with Tallassee Fire Department while still in high school. He later became volunteer fire chief with the City of Tallassee in 2004, which became a paid position in 2005. In 2011, he took the fire chief position with the City of Sylacauga, and then, in 2014, left that position for his current position as fire chief at Pike Road Fire Department. He received his Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management from Jacksonville State University in 2013 and his designation as an Executive Fire Officer from the National Fire Academy in 2019.
Email: mmissildine@alabamafirecollege.org

Allan Rice

Commissioner Allan Rice was appointed to the Commission by the Alabama Firefighters Association in 2022. He retired as the City Admin...

Commissioner Allan Rice was appointed to the Commission by the Alabama Firefighters Association in 2022. He retired as the City Administrator of Hoover, Alabama in 2023 and was previously the Executive Director of the Alabama Fire College and Personnel Standards Commission from 2007 until 2016. He also served in the Hoover Fire Department from 1992 until 2007. He has been a college program coordinator for fire science and emergency medical services, a consultant to the U.S Department of Homeland Security, and a trauma and flight nurse. He is a past president of the North American Fire Training Directors and was a founding member of the Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance Steering Committee. Allan received a paramedic certificate and Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a Master of Public and Private Management from Birmingham – Southern College.
Current Term Expires: 2/12/2027
Email: arice@alabamafirecollege.org

Derrick Swanson

Commissioner Derrick Swanson was appointed by Governor Kay Ivey in 2023 as the first African American to hold the position. Commissio...

Commissioner Derrick Swanson was appointed by Governor Kay Ivey in 2023 as the first African American to hold the position. Commissioner Swanson began his career as a Fire Medic with the City of Tuskegee then was promoted through the ranks to Fire Chief. From December 2007 to March 2015, he served as Regional Coordinator, Director of Emergency Medical Services, and Training Group Supervisor for the Alabama Fire College. From March 2015 to December 2020, he worked with the Macon County Sheriff’s Office serving as Captain over Emergency Services. Commissioner Swanson is the current City Manager of Talladega, Alabama. Commissioner Swanson has a Master of Science in Management, a Bachelor of Science in Human Resources, an Associate of Applied Science in Emergency Medical Services-Paramedic, an Associate of Applied Science in Fire Science, a current National Registered Paramedic, has knowledge from 25 State and National Pro Board Fire Certifications and is a 2023 graduate of the Alabama Public Safety Leadership Academy (APSLA). Current Term Expires: 6/6/2027
Email: dswanson@alabamafirecollege.org

Dale Wyatt

Commissioner Dale Wyatt, was appointed to the Alabama Fire College and Personnel Standards and Education Commission in 2024 and repre...

Commissioner Dale Wyatt, was appointed to the Alabama Fire College and Personnel Standards and Education Commission in 2024 and represents the Professional Fire Fighters of Alabama. He holds a B.S. in Public Safety Administration from Athens State University and an AAS from Jefferson State Community College. Additionally, he is a certified National Registered Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic (NREMT-P) from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Retiring in 2020 as a battalion chief after a distinguished 30-year career with the Birmingham Fire Department, he continues to serve the community part-time at the Helena Fire Department.
Current Term Expires: 7/1/2028
Email: dwyatt@alabamafirecollege.org