05/22/2026
Sandy Springs announced the promotion of Fire Chief Keith Sanders on May 21 to assistant city manager for infrastructure and capital program delivery, filling a position that’s been open for just over a year.
At the same time, Division Chief Jesse Bernard was promoted to interim fire chief. Sanders steps into the assistant city manager role after 12 years as fire chief, while the city advances plans to overhaul three of its fire stations.
Interim Fire Chief Bernard first joined the Sandy Springs Fire Department in 2015. He served as deputy fire marshal, where he helped lead the transition of the Fire Marshal’s Office and develop the city’s Next 10 Comprehensive Plan.
Bernard has 25 years of service in fire departments, a master’s degree, a professional certification in project management, and an array of national fire service designations. In 2021, he served as chief building official and an analyst at Nebraska Medicine, where he gained experience in code compliance, permitting, and capital facilities operations.
Bernard returned to the Sandy Springs Fire Department in 2023, most recently as division chief, overseeing daily operations, recruitment, succession planning, and strategic planning initiatives.
