Congratulations to Chief Brad Tadlock on His Upcoming Retirement

Chief Brad Tadlock is one of the people I greatly admire for his leadership, professionalism, and teamwork. Last month, he announced his retirement from the town’s Fire Rescue Department. On behalf of the Town of Hilton Head Island, I want to take this opportunity to thank him for 34 years of dedicated service to our community. His stepping into retirement will be a bittersweet moment for the town and his department, but he will leave an impressive legacy for our staff to emulate.

I recently had an opportunity to sit with Chief Tadlock and talk about the many services Fire Rescue offers, the team he had the opportunity to lead, and the department’s accomplishments. What I love most about him is that he takes pride in serving and working with others. He credited some of his success as a fire chief to having a great team of men and women working alongside him. He’s quick to say that he didn’t accomplish it by himself. It was a team effort.

Chief Tadlock started his career in Fire Rescue as a firefighter and emergency medical technician (EMT) with the then Hilton Head Fire Department, which later came under the auspices of the town. He was a standout employee as his supervisors quickly recognized that this young firefighter/EMT had the qualities to lead others and manage operations. He was quickly promoted through the ranks as station captain and deputy chief of operations before becoming fire chief in June 2014.

During his tenure, Chief Tadlock identified ways to improve the department including reinstating the Emergency Medical Services Division in 2017 and guiding the department through two international reaccreditation cycles in 2017 and 2022. Under Chief Tadlock’s leadership, the department’s Insurance Service Office (ISO) rating improved from a Class 3 designation to a Class 2 designation in 2019.

Also, Tadlock credits the support of his team and Hilton Head Island Town Council for the department’s ability to continue upgrading facilities and equipment. Fire station No. 2 in Sea Pines was replaced last year, and a new fleet of 10 engines is on order. 

Chief Tadlock and his team also faced some challenging events. Among them were the response and recovery to Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and the COVID-19 public health pandemic that gripped the island and nation for more than two years. But despite those challenges, Chief Tadlock and his team continued operating under high standards to deliver service to the community.

Chief Tadlock’s last day at the helm of our Fire Rescue Department is October 3, just as national Fire Prevention Month gets underway. The town anticipates having a new fire chief named by then—someone who can continue leading our department with the passion, enthusiasm, professionalism, and teamwork spirit that Chief Tadlock imbued.