has served as a member of Atlanta Fire Rescue Department for 30 years and worked in multiple ranks & assignments in both operations and administrative roles before retiring as an Assistant Fire Chief (Executive Staff) in 2021. Additionally, Richard served for several years as an adjunct instructor for the Georgia Public Safety Training Center and Georgia Fire Academy.

As an Assistant Fire Chief, Richard was directly involved with the major renovation of existing fire facilities, as well as the design and construction of new fire facilities. He also served on multiple executive committees responsible for the development of five-year strategic plans, as well as executive level organizational goals and objectives including special or unique events.

Richard was awarded his BS in Business Management at Western Governors University and has completed extensive professional training and is an alumnus of the Georgia Fire Academy, Georgia Public Safety Training Center and the National Fire Academy. Richard obtained his National Professional Qualifications (Pro Board) Certification as an NPQ Instructor III and NPQ Evaluator, is certified as a NIMS (National Incident Management System) Instructor and served for several years as an adjunct instructor for the Georgia Public Safety Training Center and Georgia Fire Academy.

is an accomplished business leader and consultant, with extensive experience as a Transformation & Facilities Project Manager in both the private and public business sector. Most recently, he served as the Facilities Project Manager for the City of Atlanta's Fire Rescue Department. His specific areas of expertise include: Strategic Management, Public Safety Facility Management & Programming, technology infused Program & Project Management, and Operations Management. In addition, he recently served as the chairperson of the City of Atlanta's Worksafe Atlanta Committee that manages workplace safety.

Prior to employment with the City of Atlanta, Mr. Owen Wallace was responsible for improving client driven partnerships & performance as the North American Business Partner Relationship Manager and reengineered supply-chain processes & increase channel efficiencies as a Global Transformation Project Manager at International Business Machines (IBM).

Owen Wallace is originally from St. Croix, USVI. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Kennesaw State University, and a Master of Business Administration graduate degree from Georgia Southern University. Additional professional interests include entrepreneurship and youth mentoring & development. Owen serves on a number of non-profit advisory boards.