Administration
Robert J. Staples, Fire Chief
Chief Staples joined the Glassy Mountain Fire Department in December of 2013. Chief Staples has more than 40 years of emergency services experience and more than 25 years of fire service experience.
Prior to moving to South Carolina, he served as the Fire Chief of the City of Deltona, Florida Fire Department rising through the ranks to the position of Fire Chief in 2008. He started his emergency service career in 1975 as a First Aid Explorer with the Hillside Ambulance Squad, a volunteer organization serving the township of Hillside, New Jersey. Bob also volunteered his time with the AMVETS Ambulance Corp in Irvington, New Jersey and the Union Township EMS also in New Jersey.
Throughout the years, he has worked as an Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic and EMT instructor, teaching at the University of Medicine and Dentistry in Newark, NJ. Relocating to Florida in 1988, he served with EVAC Ambulance (now Volusia County EMS) in Daytona Beach, but in 1991, Bob realized his childhood dream of being a Firefighter/Paramedic (Like Johnny and Roy in Emergency!) when he was hired by the then Deltona Fire District in what became the City of Deltona in 1995.
Bob holds an associate degree in emergency medical services, a bachelor’s degree in organizational management, and a master’s degree in management and administration of educational programs. He is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program (EFO) and is a designated Chief Emergency Medical Services Officer (CEMSO) and Chief Fire Officer (CFO) by the Center for Public Safety Excellence Commission on Professional Credentialing.
Chief Staples has a passion for mentoring others and ever improving the emergency services profession. He continues to teach CPR, First Aid, and EMT programs to those entering the profession and the community he serves.
Kelley Murphy, Administrator
Edward Timblin Jr., Captain - A Shift
Captain Ed Timblin has served the Glassy Mountain Fire Department in a full-time capacity since November of 2018 bringing with him experience as a volunteer both at GMFD and at other departments. He commands “A” shift where he has served the last few years. Ed is responsible for coordinating our Community Risk Reduction program and manages our radio and pager cache and created our Materials Safety Data program to comply with OSHA requirements. Prior to returning to Glassy in a full-time role, Ed served Spartanburg Emergency Medical Services for more than 16 years as a Lead Paramedic. He is a certified National Registry Paramedic and is an American Heart Association instructor, as well as an instructor for the South Carolina Fire Academy.
Captain Timblin has three sons who he loves to spend time with and currently reside within the district.
Russell Rafferty, Captain - B Shift
Russell Rafferty joined the department in April 2016 to fill the position of Captain of “A” Battalion with responsibility for Training and Safety. Captain Rafferty has more than 30 years of fire service experience with his last assignment as Deputy Chief of Operations, EMS, and Training for the City of Deltona Fire Department in Deltona, FL. Prior to taking on the position in Deltona, Russ served with the City of Port Orange Department of Fire and Rescue where he began his career in the fire service as a volunteer/part time firefighter in 1982 rising through the ranks as an Engineer, Lieutenant, Shift Commander, and finally as Division Chief of EMS. He is a certified National Registry Paramedic, EMS Instructor, Fire Service Instructor, Fire Inspector, Fire Officer, and Health and Safety Officer.
Captain Rafferty holds an associate degree in emergency medical service, bachelor’s degree in organizational management, and is a 2010 graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program. Captain Rafferty has become an excellent addition to our staff.
Russell and his wife Sabrina have two (2) children, Bryant lives in Virginia and Serena is attending college in Florida. Russ and Sabrina have purchased a home in the Blue Ridge area of Greer. He is an avid Chicago Bear fan and enjoys tennis and spending time with his family including his three boxers Wrangler, Minnie and Peytyn.
We are blessed to have Captain Rafferty and his wife Sabrina as part of the Glassy Mountain Fire Department family.
Raymond Govern, Captain - C Shift
Captain Raymond Govern joined the staff in November 2019 as a Firefighter/AEMT with “C” Battalion. Captain Govern has more than 25 years of experience in Emergency Services. He began his career as a Junior Firefighter in Henderson County, NC, taking classes while in High School and obtained his EMT Basic. The Captain rose through the ranks as a volunteer from Firefighter to Captain. In 2002, Captain Govern began working as an EMT for ARC Angel Ambulance Service in Hendersonville. In 2004, he started working at a Fire department in Buncombe County, NC, where he began as a Career Firefighter/EMT before being promoted to Lieutenant.
In January of 2022, Captain Govern became a Nationally Registered Paramedic. He is an IFSAC Firefighter 2, a level 2 Instructor, and an AHA BLS/CPR instructor.
Captain Govern and his wife Amanda have 4 children, Reagan (who is a volunteer firefighter/EMT with the department), Dezi, Kenzie, and Ryker. The Govern family live in Hendersonville, NC.
Dr. Coben Thorn – GMFSA Medical Director
Dr. Thorn joined the GMFSA in 2023. He assisted in writing protocols for the department and is actively involved in medical training of department staff. Dr. Thorn, who also serves as an Emergency Medicine physician with Bon Secours / St. Francis and Medical Control Physician for Thorne Ambulance Service, has several years of experience in providing medical oversight for prehospital and interfacility medical professionals. He is also a Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine.
