GREENVILLE, N.C. - Greenville Fire/Rescue Chief Eric Griffin has been appointed to the North Carolina Urban Search and Rescue Technical Advisory Committee, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety announced recently. Griffin was appointed by N.C. Department of Public Safety Secretary Frank L. Perry. 

The committee's purpose is to advise the Secretary on the oversight of the Urban Search and Rescue Program, while also evaluating the need for additional contract response teams to serve the state. There are nine representatives on the committee, and the Director of the N.C. Division of Emergency Management serves as the chair.

"I am honored to serve the State of North Carolina as a member of the Urban Search and Rescue Technical Advisory Committee," Griffin said. "I look forward to working with members of the committee in an effort to ensure the entire state has a strong and sustainable search and rescue program."

Griffin started with Greenville Fire/Rescue in 1993 and worked his way up to eventually becoming Chief in 2014. He is a graduate of the Department of Homeland Security National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program as well as Grand Canyon University, where he obtained a Master's degree in Leadership with an emphasis on Executive Fire Service Management. Griffin earned his A.A.S. in Emergency Medical Service from Wilson Technical College, and his B.S. in Business Management from Shaw University.