J. Ryan Monteith Named Town Of Davidson Fire Chief

Press release from the Town of Davidson:

Posted on: May 11, 2021

Posted on: May 11, 2021

J. Ryan Monteith Named Town of Davidson Fire Chief

The Town of Davidson announces the hiring of Ryan Monteith as its new Fire Chief. Ryan has been serving as interim chief since the retirement of former chief Reuben “Bo” Fitzgerald last year. In his new role, Ryan will be responsible for planning, organizing, and directing a variety of department activities, including firefighting, fire inspection, public education, and fire prevention in protecting the lives and property of residents.

Born and raised in Brevard, North Carolina, Ryan has extensive experience spanning years at the Brevard, Asheville, Charlotte, and Davidson Fire Departments. At the Charlotte Fire Department, he currently serves as Battalion Chief for the West Charlotte area where he supervises three special operations stations (Heavy Rescue and Dive, Hazmat, and Urban Search and Rescue). In addition, Ryan is an adjunct instructor for Central Piedmont Community College and the Charlotte Fire Department Training Academy as well as serving as task force leader for the North Carolina Task Force 3 which is a state sponsored Urban Search and Rescue team based out of the Charlotte Fire Department.

Ryan joined the Davidson Fire Department as a part-time firefighter in April 2007 and subsequently earned multiple promotions through 2013 when he was named Deputy Chief. He served as interim chief December 2020- April 2021 and began serving as the newly hired Town of Davidson Fire Department Chief on May 1, 2021.

Ryan holds an Associates in Applied Science in Fire Protection Technology from Coastal Carolina Community College, a Bachelor of Science in Fire Science from Fayetteville State University, and is currently pursuing a Masters of Science in Emergency Management from Jacksonville State University. Ryan also holds certifications as North Carolina Firefighter II, Fire Officer III, and Instructor II. His professional credentials include designations as a Chief Fire Officer and Chief Training Officer through the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE), and Ryan is a member of the NC State Firefighter’s Association and the NC Association of Fire Chiefs.

Town Manager Jamie Justice notes “we are thrilled to announce the hiring of Ryan Monteith as the new Fire Chief for the Town of Davidson. Ryan is a dedicated public servant and proven leader, and we are so grateful for the service he has provided to this community for the last 14 years. We know he will be successful in his new role and helping to grow and improve the fire department for our town.”

Ryan and his wife Susan, a testing coordinator for AL Brown High School in Kannapolis, have three children, Colton, Carson, and Easton, and one “fur baby.”

This press release was produced by the Town of Davidson. The views expressed here are the author’s own.