The term Smoke Daddy refers to the leader of the Georgia Smoke Diver program. GSD members, those who have completed the class, elect the Smoke Daddy. There have only been five members selected to serve as Smoke Daddy since the program’s inception:
- Smoke Daddy #1: Cortez Lawrence, GSD #1, 1978–1981 (Currently with U.S. Department of Homeland Security.)
- Smoke Daddy #2: Rob Fowler, GSD #10, 1981–1983 (retired as the fire chief of the LaGrange, Georgia Fire Department.)
- Smoke Daddy #3: John McLaughlin, GSD #9, 1983–1984 (retired as chief of operations for the Cobb County, Georgia, Fire Department.)
- Smoke Daddy #4: Scott Millsap, GSD #25, 1985–1994 (retired as training captain from the City of Dalton Fire Department. Died September 23, 2002.)
- Smoke Daddy #5: David Rhodes, GSD #339, 1995–present (Currently serving as battalion chief for the City of Atlanta Fire Rescue Department.)
Smoke Daddy...