Mayor Don Walters is proud to announce Chris Martin's appointment as the next chief of the Cuyahoga Falls Fire Department. He will be sworn in as the city's 16th fire chief following Fred Jackson's retirement on June 30, 2021.
"With over two decades of service to the Cuyahoga Falls Fire Department, Chris has served in many leadership and mentorship roles and is a true servant leader in the Cuyahoga Falls community," stated Mayor Don Walters. "I have full confidence that Chris will lead the department with wisdom, experience, and a willingness to continue the forward movement of the department through innovative initiatives."
"I have dedicated my professional life in service to the citizens of Cuyahoga Falls, and I am both energized and humbled by this opportunity to lead the Cuyahoga Falls Fire Department, the department in which I have spent my entire career," said Assistant Fire Chief Martin. "The women and men of this department are some of the best and brightest people I have ever had the great fortune of working with. I look forward to continuing to work with them to continue to strengthen our department and leading them into the future, which is an incredible responsibility and one that I do not take lightly."
Throughout his career, Martin has gained extensive experience working in every capacity at emergency scenes, including front-line tasks and command roles. His administrative duties have ranged from personnel management to budget preparation. Along with obtaining countless fire and emergency management certifications, he is a 2018 graduate of the Ohio Fire Executive program through the Ohio Fire Chief’s Association.
Chief Fred Jackson will retire after serving the Cuyahoga Falls Fire Department for over 30 years. He was named Fire Chief in 2018.