STAFF | Spartanburg OES

THE STAFF

Doug Bryson, CEM

Director, Emergency Services

Appointed Emergency Management Coordinator on July 9, 2005, Mr. Bryson brings a wealth of knowledge and experiences in law enforcement and emergency services. Prior to his role as Emergency Management Coordinator, Mr. Bryson served with the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office for fourteen (14) years. In 2003, he was named the Supervisor-of-the-Year for the Sheriff's Office.

While at the Sheriff's Office, Mr. Bryson was instrumental in the development and implementation of the county-wide School Resource Officer program at area school districts. Additionally, while supervising the activities of the crime prevention program, he was able to forge numerous relationships within private industry. Since arriving with Emergency Management, Mr. Bryson has continued to foster relationships with such entities as: SCEMD, DHEC, Spartanburg Regional, National Weather Service, and numerous other local, state, federal and private agencies.

While with Emergency Management, Mr. Bryson has received his BS degree in Emergency Disaster Management from Western Carolina University, his Certified Emergency Manager from the South Carolina Emergency Management Association (SCEMA), and and his CEM from the International Association of Emergency Managers. In addition, Mr. Bryson is a member of the Leadership South Carolina, Class of 2012, on the security committee for the South Carolina Association of Counties, and has served numerous roles with the International Association of Emergency Managers. Starting in 2022 Mr. Bryson was promoted to the new position of Emergency Services Director where he oversees Emergency Management, the Emergency Services Academy, and the Fire Coordinator Sections. In his spare time, Mr. Bryson enjoys spending time with his family, landscaping and travel.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Robbie Swofford

Emergency Management Coordinator

A native of Spartanburg County, Robbie Swofford is a graduate of Chapman High School, Wofford College (BA History and Government - Cum Laude), and Clemson University (MPA). He has been employed with the Spartanburg County Office of Emergency Management for 23 years.

During his 23-year tenure, he has spent almost 21 of these years coordinating the CERT program. From a Basic CERT program has spawned an Advanced CERT initiative comprised of the following 5 divisions: Spartanburg County Search and Rescue, Spartanburg County Support Services, Spartanburg County Sheltering, Spartanburg County DART, CERT91, and Spartanburg County Emergency Communications. In addition to coordinating these initiatives, Swofford is hands on in all other departmental functions/activities while also being a loving husband and father of 4 beautiful girls.

Family, SAR, CERT, VOAD, and just Community are of some of Swofford's passions. He is also a closet IMT geek, having taken All Hazards IMT training and Managing Search operations on numerous occasions. In addition, Mr. Swofford is a Part 107 Drone Pilot, has his SC CEM, and was an AMPWDA Nationally Certified K9 Handler with K9 Brodie in the discipline of Live FInd Air Scent. During his tenure with EM, Swofford has been through 5 Presidentially declared disasters, responded to 150+ searches, and helped coordinate numerous shelter operations.

Beginning in 2022, Mr Swofford became the EM Coordinator and the SR EM Specialist joined the team. SInce that time we added a Recovery/Mitigation Specialist via a Red Cross Grant in September 2025, a Senior EM Specialist Volunteer Coordinator in October 2025, and a EM Specialist / Planning and Preparedness Specialist in February 2026.

Mike Brown

Senior EM Specialist

Mike Brown joined the Spartanburg County Office of Emergency Management as the Senior Emergency Management Specialist in April of 2022. His duties include All Hazards Planning, Grants Management, Training, and Exercise Coordination.

Prior to joining the Spartanburg County Office of Emergency Management, Mike spent over a decade in private industry, before beginning his emergency management career with Greenville County Emergency Management. Afterwards, Mike worked at the South Carolina Emergency Management Division and responded to Hurricane Dorian in 2019 and the COVID-19 Pandemic. For his work during the latter, he was awarded the South Carolina State Achievement Ribbon from the South Carolina Military Department. Mike earned an Associates of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies, a Bachelor of Science (Cum Laude) in Political Science with a minor in Homeland Security followed by a Master of Arts in Security Studies where his thesis research focused on future socio-political instability in the United States.

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Kohlten Groce

Senior EM Specialist / Volunteer Coordinator

Kohlten Groce serves as an Emergency Management Specialist and Volunteer Coordinator with Spartanburg County Emergency Management. He has seven years of experience in emergency services, beginning his career as a volunteer with Spartanburg County Emergency Management and later working with Spartanburg EMS as an EMT and paramedic.

In his current role, Kohlten supports CERT program management and volunteer coordination, helping strengthen community preparedness and response efforts. He holds an Associate of Applied Science degree in Emergency Medical Services from Spartanburg Community College and maintains multiple public safety certifications.

Kohlten is passionate about being prepared for any and all emergencies and takes a strong interest in response equipment and operational capabilities. Outside of work, he enjoys airsoft, camping, and other outdoor activities such as amateur radio.

Danielle Bryan

EM Specialist / Planning and Preparedness Specialist

BIO COMING SOON

Lillia Millner

Recovery/Mitigation Specialist

Lilia Millner serves as Spartanburg County’s Recovery and Mitigation Specialist, where she combines strategic organization with a deep commitment to community care. She began volunteering with Emergency Management after Hurricane Helene, creating data systems to track home damage and connect residents with unmet needs to critical resources. She is passionate about building sustainable recovery structures that not only respond to disasters but also strengthen mitigation efforts to protect Spartanburg County long before the next storm arrives.

In October 2025, Lilia was hired as Spartanburg County’s Recovery and Mitigation Specialist. Since stepping into this role, she has assisted in closing more than 340 unmet needs cases across the county, helping residents move from disaster impact toward stability and long-term recovery.

In her free time, Lilia enjoys serving the community in creative ways. She volunteers at children’s hospitals across the Upstate and Atlanta as a Disney princess, bringing joy to chronically ill children and their families. As a mother of three, she values family time and believes strongly in raising the next generation with a heart for community service.

FIRE SERVICES

Willam Ale
Fire Services Coordinator

Chief William Ale became the Fire Services Coordinator in February 2024 last serving as the Fire Chief at the North Spartanburg Fire and Emergency Services District. He has over 45 years of fire service experience. Beginning in 1977 as a firefighter/EMT in Montgomery County, MD, he has also served as the fire chief for the cities of Spartanburg and Greenville, NC.

Bill has been a member of the 1% Supervisory Committee for four years. Bill is married to Nancy and has two sons, one daughter, and three grandchildren. Ours is a house divided with one son being a Clemson graduate and our daughter attending the University of South Carolina. Bill is an avid college football fan who follows his alma mater, the Maryland Terps, Clemson, the Gamecocks, and all SEC teams.

SPECIAL OPERATIONS

Robert Yonas

Chief, Special Operations

Experienced Emergency Services Professional with more than 5 decades of service. Retried from the Unites States Secret Service as an EMT & paramedic instructor, HAMMER instructor, hazardous materials instructor, tactical paramedic, specialist in weapons of mass destruction, tactical casualty combat care and austere medicine. Prior federal law enforcement service as a supervisor for the Hazardous Materials Response Team and a Haz Mat / WMD Specialist with the United States Capitol Police.

Beginning my career in emergency services in 1972 as a volunteer firefighter, I am a Firefighter/Paramedic with the Norrisville Volunteer Fire Company in Harford County, Maryland. Charter Member, Life Member and Past Chief. I was also a fire Captain with the Mount Holly Fire Department and continue to work with the Saluda Fire & Rescue Department.

Published author, contributing to the Hazardous Material Accidents and Weapons chapter to the text book – “Law Enforcement Responder” –published by Jones and Bartlett. This text book is specific for the first responders serving in law enforcement and provides a committed approach to training emergency medicine.

Certified firearms instructor and an armorer for numerous weapons platforms. Extensive experience in firearms training and acomplished with multiple weapon platforms.

Decorated veteran of the emergency services, receiving a Bronze Star for Valor, numerous commendations and unit citations from both my volunteer and law enforcement careers.

Chris Harvey
Battalion Chief, Special Operations

I began my fire service career in January of 1997 as a volunteer firefighter with the Roebuck Fire District in Spartanburg County SC. In Sept. 2001 I was hired with the same department and continued to work there until 2023, rising to the rank of District Chief.

During my time with Roebuck (South Spartanburg Fire District post consolidation 2022), I was the department training officer for 15 years. I was the maintenance coordinator for 8 years, and in the later years there, I was the financial and compliance piece through consolidation and capital purchases such as apparatus, station upfits and many other projects.

Also, during this time, I was part of the initial work group to develop the Spartanburg County SOP for Safe Structural Firefighting and have been part of multiple other county level workgroups to further command and leadership coordination and consistency.

In 2023, I was hired with the Westview-Fairforest Fire District as Fire Captain on Engine 32. During this time, I was part of the department command staff and built programs to improve efficiency and effectiveness of our departmental firefighting force. Projects included consistent training programs, officer/leadership development programs, departmental vision and goal setting, formal evaluation programs (quarterly and annual) as well as many other projects. This was the busiest firehouse in the county, running approximately 4500 calls annually.

In Sept 2025, I received the opportunity to move into the Battalion Chief of Special Operations role with the Spartanburg County Office of Emergency Services. In this role, I am assistant Haz Mat Coordinator, but my primary role is to develop and coordinate plans for technical rescue capabilities countywide. Areas of responsibility include gap analysis, planning, training coordination, equipment consistency, budgeting and capital projects related to tech rescue/special operations throughout the county.

EMERGENCY SERVICES ACADEMY

Joel Lynn

ESA Coordinator

Allen Ray

Senior Training Specialist

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