Tom Shannon, who bested 64 applicants in the nationwide search, according to a Web site for Fire Chief magazine, starts Nov. 17.
He most recently served as assistant fire chief in Glendale, Ariz., where he oversaw last February's response to Super Bowl XLII.
"Tom Shannon is known across the nation as a rising star in the world of firefighting," Mayor Ralph Becker said, "and we are pleased that he has decided to bring that leadership and expertise to Salt Lake City."
Shannon began his career in the Glendale Fire Department in 1988. He rose quickly to captain, special-operations battalion chief and assistant fire chief. He holds a master's degree in educational leadership from Northern Arizona University. He also is enrolled in the U.S. Homeland Security Naval Post-Graduate School to earn a master's in international studies in homeland security.
Shannon replaces Dennis McKone, a 40-year veteran, who has served as acting fire chief since 2007. McKone replaced Charles Querry, who left to take the program-manager slot at the Utah Fire and Rescue Academy.
McKone says he will retire after Shannon takes over.
As chief, Shannon will command a department of 393 employees and 14 stations. The department operates two battalions and covers 114 square miles.
The appointment marks the first time in more than a year and a half that the mayor's executive team is fully staffed.
Lindsay Whitehurst contributed to this story.
