People

Leadership changes are coming to Metro Nashville’s Department of Law. 

Mayor Freddie O’Connell announced current director Wallace “Wally” Dietz will retire from his position in July 2026. Tyler Yarbro has been tapped to succeed Dietz as the department’s director. 

Dietz has headed the law department...

Jonathan Jenkins has been selected as the new assistant fire chief for the Franklin Fire Department (FFD). A veteran of the department, Jenkins will take over the role from Assistant Chief Greg Baltimore, who retired in December. Jenkins most recently spent the past six years as a battalion chief...

Delaney Oldham will serve as a new finance and accounting consultant for UT-MTAS, based in the Nashville office. Prior to her role with MTAS, Oldham served as a legislative auditor in the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury’s Division of Local Audit. A certified county finance officer, Oldham...

Herb Byrd, vice president of the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service (IPS), will retire Sept. 30 following 40 years of dedicated service to the University of Tennessee and the state.

TML Executive Director Anthony Haynes thanked Byrd for his work in public service, particularly with...

Teresa Keen has retired after 49 years of service to the city of Portland. Keen began work at Portland City Hall in 1977 and is retiring from her current role as assistant to the mayor. During her tenure with the city, Keen said she saw much of the city’s business go from handwritten to computerized...

Chris Willyard has been selected as the new fire marshal for the Hendersonville Fire Department. Willyard has served with the department for 16 years, joining after spending six years with the Hendersonville Police Department. In addition to serving as the fire marshal, he will continue to serve as...

Craig Bennett has been selected as the first town administrator for Caryville. The Caryville Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted in April 2025 to create the town administrator position. Prior to coming to Caryville, Bennett served for more than three years as an operations officer with the U.S...

Bob Rial has been selected as the interim manager of Fairview. Rial will begin the role on a part-time basis until he finishes out his current term as Dickson County Mayor in November, at which point he will transition to full-time. Prior to being elected County Mayor in 2010, Rial served on the...

Longtime Memphis State Rep. G.A. Hardaway died on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the age of 71 after a brief illness.  

A Democrat, Hardaway was initially elected to serve District 92 in March 2007, which became District 93 in January 2013. The district represents parts of South Memphis and the Orange...

Justin Bush has been selected as major of operations for the Bristol Police Department. A 16-year veteran of the force, Bush has gained leadership experience serving as the department’s captain of patrol and captain of support services. In his new role, Bush will oversee the Patrol and Criminal...

Leon Downey, executive director of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism, is retiring after 38 years in the role. Since 1988, Downey has guided efforts to grow the city into one of the most popular tourism destinations in the nation and has welcomed numerous attractions, providing the city with...