City Services
Gastonia Fire Department
Fire Chief Ken Lay
Kenneth W. Lay
Fire Chief
260 N Myrtle School Rd.
Gastonia, NC 28054
Bio
Kenneth W. Lay was born and raised in Muskegon Heights, MI. He graduated from the Muskegon Heights Public School District where he was an outstanding athlete. Kenneth earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Educational Psychology from Alcorn State University, after graduating from college, Kenneth returned to his hometown and secured a six-year position with the Muskegon Heights School District as a counselor for the Basic Education Program. Kenneth earned his Master of Business Administration degree from Belhaven College of Jackson MS.
In 1989, Kenneth began his fire-fighting career with the Muskegon Heights Fire Department. Kenneth furthered his professional training in the fire service by earning a Fire Science Degree from Lansing Community College. In 1990 he finished the Inaugural Class of the Fire Staff and Command School at Eastern Michigan University. Kenneth was promoted to Assistant Chief in 1995, becoming the youngest in history in the department to serve in that capacity. In October of 1996, he was again promoted and became the youngest Fire Chief to lead the department. Kenneth was hired as Chief of the Jackson Fire Department in January of 2001, where he provided enthusiastic service to the community and quality leadership to the fire department until May of 2005.
Kenneth is affiliated with numerous national, professional, and civic organizations. His personal motto is, "You always have a choice, you may not always like the choices, but you do have a choice".
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