The Joseph A. Glover Story

In Service to Country and Community: The Joseph A. Glover Story

By Connie Conway

SMSgt Joseph A. Glover, a U.S. Air Force Veteran and native of Pensacola, currently serves as instructor at the Pine Forest High School Fire Academy, the first career high school fire academy in Northwest Florida. Glover’s extraordinary military and civilian public service career experience underscores the excellent education the Academy is providing to area youth interested in firefighting and related careers.

Glover served in the Air Force from 1983 to 1987, then in the Reserves until 2016, a 33-year military career. While in the Reserves, he joined the Pensacola Fire Department. His 27-year career there included positions in fire suppression, inspections, administration, and as minority recruiter.

A final Air Force appointment, which was as chief enlisted manager for the 403rd Logistics Readiness Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, put Glover in support of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, also known as the Hurricane Hunters. His distinguished service to our nation is reflected in his numerous awards, including a Meritorious Service Medal in 2016.

In 2011 Glover had become the first African American promoted to the rank of deputy fire chief of Pensacola Fire Department. He served as Escambia County Fire Rescue’s fire prevention officer charged with developing and supporting community outreach and public fire safety programs that promote awareness and educate citizens. He later transitioned from that position to teaching at the fire academy.

A BOON TO THE COMMUNITY … AND TO AHERO

Glover’s first-hand experience in, and knowledge of, fire science and administration are clearly extensive. He has a number of

bachelor’s degrees in these disciplines, as well as an associate degree in education and training from Air University, and other related credits.

Having a background of such multifaceted career experience and education is extremely unusual. With today’s considerable uptick in instances of wildfire and the public’s concern in general about fire – and its interest in the role of our much put-upon First Responders – having such a background means you get asked a lot of questions. So I recently asked SMSgt Glover about a few things.

His answers were thoughtful, insightful, and concise.

CC: As a young person, was there a family member who served in the military, who inspired you to serve as well? JG: Yes. I had a cousin who died in the Vietnam War. His name, William Allen Jr, is engraved on the National Vietnam Memorial Wall and on the Wall South at Pensacola’s Veterans Memorial Park

CC: Thank you for sharing that. I am sorry for your family’s loss. JG: Thank you.

CC: AHERO recently decided to add qualifying First Responders to the at-risk military Veterans it serves in its suicideprevention mission. In your view, how do the forces that motivate them align – or do they align at all? JG: First Responders are the first line of defense in every community, yet those who take on that commitment generally are ordinary people. They become depended upon to do extraordinary things every day. And – ordinary or not – as First Responders, they will selflessly risk all to save the lives of others.

CC: AHERO has also been collaborating with Tall Timbers Inc on a program introducing interested Veterans to careers in conservation. These involve controlled burns and firefighting. Can you comment on how you see this type of outdoororiented work appealing to individuals who have left military service where they once enjoyed operating affectively as a team in outdoor settings? JG: I believe the work experience offered by the Tall Timbers organization is a perfect fit for many military Veterans. One of the things Veterans miss most after separation from service is the teamwork and camaraderie they once enjoyed. This program provides a unique opportunity to reconnect with other Veterans in a meaningful way.

CC: I know you and your wife, Charlotte, have been married for nearly 20 years, so you are a family man, which in itself involves time. Even so, you continue to have yet another “career” in public service, i.e., volunteering on boards of non-profits. This is so valuable to a complex military/civilian community such as we have here, especially given the executive training you have had. I want to thank you for providing your story to AHERO Magazine! However, before we conclude, can I ask you to list some of those charitable entities at which you’ve so generously volunteered your time? DT: Of course, and you are welcome. Having always understood the importance in investing in our youth, I’ve been a Take Stock in Children mentor for more than 25 years and currently am vice president of Movement for Change. I’ve also volunteered for Habitat for Humanity; served as loaned executive for the United Way; still regularly volunteer on the Annual Day of Caring; and have spearheaded and collaborated with organizations such as Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida on numerous charitable events. Other organizations include the American Red Cross, Good Works Partnerships, and the Trauma Intervention Program. I was also proud to serve on the board of the Pensacola Veterans Memorial Park Foundation.

CC: Again, thanks so much for this interview. And thank you for your great service to this community and to our country.

Students respond with rapt attention as Chief Glover conducts class at the Fire Academy.

Veteran (AF MSgt) Joseph Glover, a native Pensacolan, stands at the Wall South in Pensacola Veterans Memorial Park. As it does on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C., the name of William Allen, Glovers cousin, is inscribed here. Ready to ride to the rescue, young Landon Carwford poses with his impressive First Responder uncle, Chief Glover!

Clearly a major-league homerun star in the making! Here, “Coach” Glover instructs at a youth baseball camp sponsored by Quint Studer through his Good Works Program where Glover, a board member, also volunteered.