The Town of West Point has appointed its first full-time fire chief, Spencer Cheatham.

Cheatham is charged with working with leaders from the town and the West Point Volunteer Fire Department to continue the department’s service and find ways to improve the safety of the community, said a press release.

A lifelong resident of the Town of West Point, Cheatham has volunteered with WPVFD since 1995, serving as a firefighter, EMT, captain, assistant chief and fire chief. He also served in several positions with New Kent Fire-Rescue from 2004 to 2010. He earned an undergraduate degree from George Mason University.

Since 2015, Cheatham has been a program manager and subject matter expert with the International Association of Fire Chiefs, developing national programs that help volunteer and combination departments with recruitment, retention, and leadership issues. He holds numerous certifications, has published 15 articles in various fire service publications, has given talks at st...