From Firehouse Roots to Division Chief: Justin Phillips Leads C Shift

Published on April 13, 2026

Division Chief Justin Phillips is joined by Charlotte Fire leadership after being promoted to oversee C shift, marking the next chapter in a career dedicated to service and leadership. 

By Kevin Campbell, Charlotte Fire  

For Division Chief Justin Phillips, the fire service has never been just a profession. It has been a calling shaped by family, reinforced by experience and strengthened by a lifelong commitment to serving others. 

Long before he stepped into the Charlotte Fire recruit academy, Phillips was already immersed in the culture of the fire service. Raised in Mint Hill, he grew up around firefighters. His father served as a chief officer with the Mint Hill Fire Department, and two of his uncles were also members. The firehouse was not an unfamiliar place. It was part of his upbringing, part of his understanding of community and part of the foundation that shaped his future. 

“As a child I would frequent the fire department with my family,” Phillips said. “It’s kind of one of those things I’ve always known. When I was about to graduate high school and looking at the future, I knew that I wanted to have a career in the fire service.” 

Division Chief Justin Phillips stands alongside his father, Mint Hill Fire Chief John Phillips, and his brother, Charlotte Fire Captain Travis Phillips. The fire service runs deep in the Phillips family, shaping Justin’s path from a young age. 

But it was not just exposure that influenced him. It was watching firefighters work and understanding the impact they had on people’s lives. 

“I saw the value in serving your community. I saw the value in being there when people needed you the most,” Phillips said. “I can remember as a child standing in the bed of my dad’s pickup truck in the middle of the night watching firefighters go to work. I could not wait to be old enough to join the junior firefighter program.” 

At 16, he joined the Mint Hill Fire Department’s junior firefighter program, where he trained and learned alongside firefighters while gaining firsthand experience in the environment he had grown to admire. The program allowed him to build foundational skills while reinforcing his decision to pursue the fire service as a career. 

After graduating high school, Phillips moved forward with that goal and joined Charlotte Fire on Dec. 8, 2003, entering Recruit Class 68. The transition to a large metropolitan department brought new challenges but also confirmed he was exactly where he wanted to be. 

Division Chief Justin Phillips outside Charlotte Fire Headquarters following his promotion. Phillips said his top priority in the new role is ensuring firefighters have the resources they need and that everyone goes home safely. 

“Recruit school was an eye-opening experience,” Phillips said. “Charlotte Fire takes a step further to ensure that the recruits have a good working knowledge of what’s being taught.” 

The experience pushed him physically and mentally while also introducing him to the professionalism and expectations that define Charlotte Fire. It also began a journey shaped by mentorship, teamwork and a steady commitment to learning. 

Over the next two decades, Phillips built his career through experience and leadership development. Along the way, he credits the officers he worked for with helping shape his leadership philosophy and approach. 

“Every officer that you have, you take a piece of them with you,” Phillips said. “That’s how you develop your leadership style. I didn’t have it all figured out early on. I had a lot to learn.” 

That philosophy remains central to how he approaches leadership today. He believes growth comes from listening, observing and learning from those around you. Each assignment, each mentor and each challenge contributed to the leader he has become. 

Division Chief Justin Phillips stands with battalion chiefs who will work alongside him on C shift. Phillips emphasized collaboration and support as key priorities in his new leadership role. 

Now, more than 20 years after walking into the academy, Phillips has been promoted to division chief over C shift. The position carries responsibility for approximately 350 personnel and the operational leadership of one of Charlotte Fire’s three shifts. 

Charlotte Fire Chief Reginald Johnson said Phillips’ promotion reflects a leader who understands both the operational demands of the job and the importance of taking care of people. 

“Justin Phillips represents the kind of leader Charlotte Fire is proud to promote,” Johnson said. “He understands that this job is about people first. He cares about our firefighters, he cares about this community, and he leads with integrity. His experience, compassion and steady leadership will serve C shift well, and I’m confident he will continue building a culture where our members are supported and our citizens receive the very best service.” 

Division Chief Justin Phillips stands with Charlotte Fire command staff. The moment reflects a career built through experience, mentorship and a steady commitment to serving both firefighters and the community. 

For Phillips, the new role centers on supporting firefighters so they can serve the community effectively and safely. 

“We have a job to do, which is go out there and serve the citizens,” Phillips said. “My role in that is making sure our folks are equipped, making sure that they have every resource necessary to do the job, and making sure that we have a safe environment to operate in.” 

That responsibility is something he carries with him each day. 

“It is something that I do think about every morning that I walk in,” Phillips said. “No matter what, everyone goes home. That’s my focus. That’s what I take on my shoulders.” 

As he steps into the division chief role, Phillips’ immediate goal is to ensure a smooth transition and maintain the strong performance already established on C shift. 

Division Chief Justin Phillips at Charlotte Fire Headquarters. More than 20 years after entering Recruit Class 68, Phillips now leads C shift with a focus on professionalism, pride and teamwork. 

“I’m transferring to another shift that’s running great,” Phillips said. “I want to seamlessly fill that role. I want it to be business as usual.” 

Beyond the transition, his long-term vision focuses on culture, pride and teamwork. 

“A year from now, I want people to feel pride in being on C shift,” Phillips said. “I want them to be proud of the work that they do. It has way less to do with me than it does them. Because they’re the ones that matter.” 

Phillips believes pride in the workplace translates directly into performance and service to the community. 

Division Chief Justin Phillips outside Charlotte Fire Headquarters. Phillips joined Charlotte Fire in 2003 and now steps into a leadership role focused on supporting firefighters and serving the community. 

“I think a happy workplace is a good workplace,” he said. “If people are proud of what they do and they’re happy to come to work, they’re going to produce. That’s what’s important.” 

He also hopes to pass along the lessons he learned from the officers who mentored him throughout his career. 

“I want to give them my care and compassion for the citizen,” Phillips said. “At the end of the day, that’s who we work for.” 

That focus on compassion extends beyond emergency response. Phillips believes professionalism and empathy must guide every interaction. 

“The fire department is there to fix their problem,” he said. “If we are at all able to fix the problem, my expectation is that we do. Even if they’re not completely satisfied at the end, I want them to be smiling and say they called the right people.” 

Outside of the firehouse, Phillips’ life reflects the same values of service and family. He and his wife, Deborah, adopted two children from foster care, Colton and Juliana. The experience, he said, has been one of the most meaningful parts of his life and one that further strengthened his perspective on leadership, compassion and responsibility. 

Division Chief Justin Phillips is joined by his wife, Deborah, and their children, Colton and Juliana. Family has played a central role in Phillips’ journey, including the couple’s decision to adopt both children from foster care. 

Phillips also helps run a small family farm where they raise livestock including cows, horses, goats, chickens and pigs. The farm provides time together as a family and balance away from the demands of the job. 

In addition, he competes in local rodeo circuits. He has competed for roughly a decade and has earned multiple association championships. For Phillips, the rodeo offers camaraderie, adrenaline and competition, elements that mirror aspects of the fire service. 

Despite those pursuits, his focus remains firmly on Charlotte Fire and the people he now leads. Looking back, Phillips describes his career as one shaped by opportunity, mentorship and a commitment to service. 

Division Chief Justin Phillips stands outside Charlotte Fire Headquarters following his promotion to lead C shift, a role that carries responsibility for approximately 350 personnel across the city. 

“I’ve been extremely fortunate,” Phillips said. “I didn’t have it all figured out early on. I had a lot to learn, and I’ve had great people help guide me along the way.” 

Now, as division chief over C shift, Phillips steps into a role that carries greater responsibility but the same purpose that first drew him to the fire service as a child. 

Support the firefighters. Serve the community. Make sure everyone goes home. 

It is the same mission he watched unfold from the bed of his father’s pickup truck in Mint Hill. Today, as Division Chief Justin Phillips leads C shift, that mission continues through him and the firefighters he now serves beside. 

Division Chief Justin Phillips celebrates his promotion surrounded by family, friends and Charlotte Fire members. The moment highlights the strong support system behind his two decades of service.