Town’s longest serving employee retires

Hilton Head Island’s Fire Rescue Line Battalion Chief Jeff Hartberger retired on July 1st, 2025, after nearly 41 years of dedicated service. Hartberger is not only the longest-serving member in the Fire Rescue’s department’s history, but in the history of the Town of Hilton Head Island, according to HHI Fire Rescue Digital Marketing and Communications Specialist Kenzie Hrobar.

Hartberger began his career as a firefighter and steadily rose through the ranks, becoming Line Battalion Chief in January, 2008. Hartberger has served under five different Fire Chiefs, witnessing and contributing to tremendous growth and change within the department and the HHI community.

Current Chief, Chris Blankenship, says “Over the past 41 years, Jeff has served this department, and this island, with unwavering dedication. He has seen chiefs come and go, policies change, and the fire service evolve—but through it all, he never wavered. He embraced every shift, every challenge, and every opportunity to grow.”

Hartberger has made a lasting impact on Hilton Head Island with work that laid the foundation for mapping and hydrant systems still in use today, founding a nonprofit with FDNY’s Counseling Service Unit, following 9/11, and helping to create national standards for fire service data management and South Carolina’s data/reporting standards.

Hartberger says he could not have had the career success he did without the support of his family and his team. “I have been so fortunate to work with a great group of firefighters, officers, and staff chiefs throughout my career. I began at a time where our reports were written on carbonless copy paper. Now we have orchestrated data driven systems to help the department continue to grow and be successful with technology driven information. I’m excited to see what the future brings for them.”

Hartberger’s wife Deborah says: “The brotherhood of the firefighters is a tight bond that Jeff cherishes. The love and respect they have for each other is like nothing I have ever seen. They spend 1/3 of their lives together so not only do they work hard, but they play hard and take care of one another.”

Hartberger says that his retirement comes with mixed emotions, as the Fire Rescue has been enmeshed into his family’s life “The department has been a huge part of our world for my entire marriage to Deborah. My daughters, Hannah and Abbi, grew up there.”

Today, Fire Rescue provides service from seven fire stations, strategically located throughout Hilton Head Island, staffed with 151 well-trained, progressive uniformed, and civilian personnel.  

Blankenship says Hartberger “has done incredible things throughout his career, but what I’m most proud of is his leadership. Jeff has mentored and shaped generations of firefighters—many of whom are leading this department today because of his guidance. He’s helped set our course forward and I know, without question, that he is leaving us better than he found us.”

Tracy Winslow is a college professor, owner of the premier yarn store Low Country Shrimp and Knits, and humor columnist for The Bluffton Sun. shrimpandknits.com.