Rob Frampton Chosen as Salisbury’s New Fire Chief
The City of Salisbury announces the hiring of Rob Frampton as the City’s new Fire Chief. Frampton is a 24-year veteran of the Salisbury Fire Department – he started as a volunteer and progressed through the department. He has served in several roles – including Assistant Chief and Acting Deputy Chief. Frampton was hired after an extensive search.
Additional information from the City of Salisbury:
He holds a Master’s Degree in Emergency Health Services, a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program.
“It is a tremendous opportunity and it’s very humbling,” Frampton said. “I’m extremely proud and thankful to all my coworkers, friends and family for their support, not just in this process, but for years. I started out as a volunteer and progressed through the department. This shows others in the department that you can join as a volunteer, work your way up, get the education and training you need, be in leadership and even become the Fire Chief in the end — all right here.”
Frampton has already identified three main pillars for his focus moving forward. The first is taking advantage of new and existing technology as the department moves forward. The second is the health and safety of the members of the department, and the third is focused on their mental well-being.
“I feel like I am well prepared and we have a great team and cadre of company and chief-level officers who are there to support this transition from an excellent Fire Chief in John Tull to the new leadership,” he said. “I’m focused on bringing a family philosophy to the department. Every shift or work group I have been a part of has been a family. I feel like there is a direction we can take to make sure that we have a department of 100-plus that is one large family.”
Frampton has won numerous Departmental awards in his career which include: two MIEMSS (Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems) Star of Life Awards, two Departmental Commendations, a Departmental Meritorious Service Award, plus multiple unit citations and CPR awards.
In 2022, he became an Executive Fire Officer (EFO) graduate by completing a four-year program for executive leaders in the fire service through the National Fire Academy. Less than 100 individuals in the state of Maryland have completed this program. Frampton is also a credentialed Chief Fire Officer (CFO) through the Center for Public Safety Excellence.
This year, he completed the Leadership Maryland program — which was focused on the state’s five main geographic regions and most vital issues that impact health and human services, economic development, the environment, education, criminal justice and diversity. The program educates participants through hands-on learning, panelists and guest speakers which include over 100 experts that represent business, government, education, and non-profit communities from the state.
Frampton understands that the department faces challenges including the expansion of services to meet the ever-increasing demands and call volume, but looks forward to addressing those with the help of the department’s leadership team.
He is confident that his education and experience with preparing, delivering, and monitoring the department’s annual budget — along with the short and long-term planning found in the annual Capital Improvement Plan — will allow him to ensure that the fire department is fiscally responsible and able to meet current and future goals.
His background as a Paramedic since 2001 gives him a broader view of the varied members of the team that make up the Salisbury Fire Department.
Outside of the department, he is a Board Member of the Maryland Rural Health Association, has been a Board Member and Treasurer of the Company Officers Section of the International Association of Fire Chiefs since 2012, founded the Salisbury Paramedic Foundation and is an active member in the Santa’s Angels Charity Organization.
“This is what I have worked toward my whole life, so there is a tremendous amount of pride,” Frampton said. “I know we’re going to be successful because of the great people that we have in the Salisbury Fire Department.”
