Frisco Fire Chief Lee Glover to Retire in 2026 After Decades of Service

Lee Glover joined the Frisco Fire Department in October 1991 as one of seven paid firefighters in a city that barely registered on Texas maps. He leaves it as fire chief of a 299-person operation holding national accreditations that fewer than three other departments in the entire state can claim. Glover announced his retirement this week, with his final day set for August 3, 2026.

The 35-year arc of his career is, in many ways, the arc of Frisco itself. When Glover started as a firefighter/paramedic, the department ran primarily on volunteer labor out of a single station. Today it operates nine fire stations across a city the U.S. Census Bureau named the nation's fastest-growing in 2020. The department now counts 265 sworn personnel and 34 civilian staff members.

Glover rose steadily through every tier of the department's command structure: lieutenant, captain, battalion chief, deputy chief of operations, assistant fire chief of emergency services, and assistant fire chief of support services before serving as interim fire chief starting in September 2022. He was selected from five finalists across Texas before City Manager Wes Pierson formally named him fire chief in June 2023.

The department's credential portfolio stands as one of the most significant markers of his tenure. The Commission on Fire Accreditation International first awarded Frisco accreditation in 2018, a designation held by only about 340 departments nationwide. Seven years later, the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services added accreditation for the department's emergency medical services, making Frisco one of only three Texas departments to hold both. Frisco also maintains an ISO Class 1 rating, the highest possible score for water supply, firefighting capabilities, and emergency communications, placing it among just eight Texas communities that hold both the ISO Class 1 and CFAI accreditation simultaneously.

"These accomplishments are not the result of any one individual but rather the collective effort of a team committed to serving others with integrity and excellence," Glover said in announcing his departure. In remarks directed to his department, he added: "Serving alongside each of you has been one of the greatest honors of my life."

Pierson praised Glover in equally direct terms. "I couldn't be prouder of him," the city manager said. "Chief Glover served with honor and distinction. He's an example of excellence in his profession, serving with integrity while caring for the citizens of Frisco."

Pierson confirmed the city will begin an immediate search for Glover's successor. Glover has pledged to support a smooth leadership transition through his August 3 departure date.