HAMILTON COUNTY, TN
FIRE / SPECIAL OPS
Fire Training Staff
Chief Jody Clift
Hamilton County Fire Training Chief Instructor/Logistics
Chief Jody Clift began his career with Hamilton County in 1993 as an Emergency Medical Services’ Emergency Medical Technician advancing to Paramedic in 1995. He transferred to Hamilton County Fire Training in 2001 serving as a Fire Training Lieutenant and promoted to Fire Training Captain in 2019.
Jody leads the Fire Training Team in developing, managing, and conducting various levels of critical fire training for area municipal and volunteer firefighters. He steers the Hazardous Materials Department’s operations and training to ensure the department’s response capabilities for Hamilton County, Tennessee Homeland Security District III, and Tri-State Mutual Aid Association surrounding communities. Additional responsibilities include; managing the Unmanned Aircraft Team, administering County emergency communications systems, and liaison to the County’s volunteer fire and rescue departments.
Captain Patrick Kellam
Hamilton County Fire Training Instructor
Patrick Kellam has been around the fire service since he was 2 years old. At the age of 14, Patrick joined an explorer (junior firefighter) program to learn more about the job, and after 4 years there he was able to attend the Hamilton County fire academy as a volunteer and receive his Firefighter I certification. Since then, he has continued to volunteer and is now a Station Captain and training coordinator for his volunteer department. At the age of 19, Patrick began his career as a paid industrial firefighter, and since has more than 11 years as a career firefighter with three departments. Patrick also certifications in fire suppression, technical rescue, and tactical medicine as well as an Advanced EMT license and an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science Technology.