Deputy Chief Hillhouse will be Interim GFR Chief

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In a memo to the Mayor and City Commission, Gainesville City Manager Cynthia Curry announced that Deputy Chief Joseph (Shawn) Hillhouse will serve as Interim Chief of Gainesville Fire Rescue following the resignation of GFR Chief Joe Dixon, who has accepted a position as Chief of the Baltimore County Fire Department so he can be closer to family.

Although Curry originally told the City Commission that Dixon’s last day would be September 20, he is now expected to stay through November 1. The City will conduct a national search for a new Chief.

Chief Hillhouse has served GFR since 2003, rising through the ranks to become Fire Marshal, Assistant Fire Chief, and Deputy Fire Chief. He has a Bachelor of Science in Fire and Emergency Services from the University of Florida Rinker School of Construction Management and a master’s degree in Homeland Security from the Naval Postgraduate School.