Millington's Board of Mayor and Aldermen has signed off on a new top firefighter, confirming longtime Memphis-area veteran Robbie Franks as the city's fire chief in a March 9 vote. A third-generation firefighter with more than 27 years in the profession, Franks steps into the job from the broader Memphis fire system and is set to oversee operations, training and special-operations work for Millington's two-station Fire Department. Family and colleagues marked the promotion with a badge-pinning ceremony, where his father, David Franks, did the honors.
The move became official when the board adopted Resolution 8-2026 on March 9, according to the City of Millington's agenda packet. The city also rolled out the news on its official Facebook page, which highlights Franks' Master of Public Administration from the University of Memphis, previous leadership posts with the Memphis and Arlington fire departments, and his role with Tennessee Task Force One, FEMA's urban search-and-rescue team, per the Millington, TN - Municipal Government Facebook post. That post notes he most recently served as deputy chief of emergency operations, overseeing suppression, training, special operations and air rescue across dozens of stations and more than a thousand personnel.
Memphis Experience And Task Force Deployments
Franks climbed the ranks in Memphis, taking on a series of operational and logistics leadership posts before moving into deputy chief responsibilities, according to Ready Rebound, which lists him as a Memphis deputy chief. That résumé includes work on large-scale suppression efforts, coordination of special-operations responses and oversight of air-rescue units. City leaders in Millington say that combination of experience is exactly what they expect him to bring to the local department.
What Franks' Hire Means For Millington
Millington's fire department serves roughly 11,500 residents inside the city limits and runs out of two stations, logging thousands of training hours each year, per the city's fire page. Bringing in a chief who has managed large operational divisions and worked with Tennessee Task Force One could position the department to grow its technical-rescue capabilities and tighten coordination with regional partners. City officials have framed the hire as a way to build local capacity while tapping Franks' background with high-volume systems and complex rescue operations.
Badge-Pinning And Next Steps
Photos shared by the city show David Franks pinning the chief's badge on his son, a ceremonial nod to what the post describes as a three-generation firefighting legacy, per the Millington, TN - Municipal Government Facebook post. The board's resolution directs that Franks "shall faithfully discharge the duties of Fire Chief" and signs off on the City Manager's recommendation contained in the agenda packet. The appointment took effect with the March 9 adoption, and both the packet and the department's social posts list the mayor and Board of Aldermen as having approved the confirmation.
