Maryland has a new State Fire Marshal with deep Calvert County roots. Col. Michael A. Jackson, Superintendent of the Maryland Department of State Police, announced the appointment of Carroll H. Spriggs II, 53, to a six-year term leading the Office of the State Fire Marshal — a role that makes him the first African American to hold the position in the office’s 132-year history.
Spriggs will lead the nation’s oldest state fire marshal’s office, overseeing statewide fire, arson and explosives investigations, enforcement of the State Fire Prevention Code, and public safety education. He takes charge of an agency of 85 employees, including more than 42 deputy state fire marshals.
Before this appointment, Spriggs served as Deputy Fire Chief for the Prince George’s County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department and, earlier, as Deputy Fire Chief for the City of Annapolis. He also worked as a Task Force Officer with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and was elected to the National Bomb Squad Commanders Advisory Board in 2019, becoming its secretary the following year.
For Southern Maryland readers, Spriggs’ most notable local tie is 38 years of service with the Huntingtown Volunteer Fire Department in Calvert County — a tenure spanning nearly four decades with one of the county’s busiest volunteer companies.
“I would like to thank Colonel Jackson for this tremendous opportunity,” Spriggs said. “I look forward to working with all of the partners of the MDSP to continue making Maryland safe.”
Jackson praised Spriggs’ background in announcing the selection. “With a career rooted in service and extensive experience in fire investigation and explosives, Spriggs brings a wealth of knowledge and a commitment to the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office,” Jackson said. He also thanked outgoing Chief Deputy Jason Mowbray, who has led the office as Acting State Fire Marshal since December 2023 and will now move to the agency’s senior management team following the transition. “I send my sincere appreciation to Chief Deputy Jason Mowbray for his leadership and his continued dedication to the citizens of Maryland,” Jackson said.
The selection process began in May 2026, when the position was formally advertised. Candidate resumes were reviewed by the State Fire Prevention Commission, which forwarded top candidates to Jackson for final selection, per the standard process for filling the role.
