Chester County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell, and Michelle Kichline announced the appointment of Warren W. "Bill" Messerschmidt III as the county's new director of the Department of Emergency Services (DES). Messerschmidt was slated to take the lead at DES on Feb. 13, following his most recent role as assistant director of emergency management operations (EMO) in Montgomery County. Additionally, Messerschmidt has been a firefighter at Centre Square Fire Company in Blue Bell for 16 years and has served as deputy chief of operations for the past seven. As director of DES, he will oversee the 9-1-1 Center, Emergency the Management and Emergency Operations divisions, and the Public Safety Training Campus.

Messerschmidt is a graduate of Drexel University, where he co-founded the Drexel Emergency Medical Services. He is pursuing a Master of Public Administration online with the University of New Haven and is scheduled to graduate in the coming months.