Deputy Chief John Barry O’Neill, Jr has served the Memphis Fire Department during two periods of service, from 1992–2017 and September 2019–present. Throughout his career, he has held a various leadership role, most recently serving as Battalion Chief of Training.

Prior to his assignment in Training, Battalion Chief O’Neill served as Battalion Chief of Special Operations, where he directed training and certification for the Special Operations Bureau, led the acquisition of approximately $5 million in state and federal grants, and played a key role in the development of the department’s Maritime Division. He has also provided on-scene incident command during hazardous materials, technical rescue, and multiple-alarm incidents.

Chief O’Neill previously served as Deputy Fire Chief for the Collinsville Fire Department, where he improved capital planning, strengthened water supply initiatives to support ISO ratings, updated operational policies to meet NFPA and OSHA standards, expanded regional EMS partnerships, and secured more than $1.1 million in grant funding.

He holds a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Fire Administration and Fire Prevention Technology from The University of Memphis and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration at Arkansas State University. Chief O’Neill is a licensed paramedic and holds numerous professional certifications, including National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer and Center for Public Safety Excellence Chief Fire Officer.