Monroe County has officially named a new Fire Chief/Emergency Services Director.
On Thursday, May 7, the county hired Milledgeville resident Matthew Jackson as the county’s new Fire/EMS Director. Jackson has 26 years of Fire/EMS experience in the Forest Park Fire/EMS Department from 1993-2018, including holding the dual titles of Deputy Fire Chief and EMS Director prior to his 2018 retirement.
Jackson received a number of awards during his tenure in Forest Park. He was named Firefighter of the Quarter in January 2000, Firefighter of the Year in December 2000, Firefighter of the Year in October 2002 and also received honors for multiple medical saves, multiple trauma saves and for his efforts while deployed for Hurricane Katrina.
Jackson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire and Emergency Management from Kaplan University as well as a Master of Public Administration from Kaplan University with a concentration on Fire and Disaster Management.
Jackson also holds numerous accreditations and licenses in a wide range of fire/EMS skills, including NPQ Firefighter 1 & 2, NPQ Arson Investigator, NPQ Instructor 3, NPQ Fire Inspector, Georgia Paramedic #4673, Certified Emergency Manager, Critical Care Paramedic #7906, Georgia Fire Chief Certification, Hazardous Materials Technician, BCLS Instructor, ACLS Instructor, PALS Instructor, Confined Space Rescue Technician, Trench Rescue Technician (II), Rescue Specialist and High Angle Rope Technician (IV).
Jackson, who will also double as the Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director, was set to begin work on Thursday. Jackson replaces former Fire/EMS Director Matt Perry, who resigned his post in November 2019. Longtime Monroe County firefighter Jason Lott had served as the interim Fire Chief since Perry’s departure while former Ashburn Fire Chief Brian Meadows had served as the interim Public Safety Director since January 2020.
