On Tuesday, May 10, 2022, Mayor Don Walters presided over the promotional ceremony of Cuyahoga Falls Battalion Chief Matthew Kee who was promoted to Deputy Chief. He will serve alongside Fire Chief Chris Martin and Assistant Chief Jack Breese. In this new role, Kee will primarily be responsible for the development and delivery of training and safety programs for members of the Cuyahoga Falls Fire Department as Training Officer. He will also assist in operations, budgeting, special assignments, and community relations. He began his new role on April 25, 2022.
“In his almost 25 years of service to the City of Cuyahoga Falls, Deputy Chief Kee has remained a steadfast leader as he has risen through the ranks of the department,” stated Mayor Don Walters. “I have full confidence that the department members will significantly benefit from his experience and guidance as he heads the department's training division, and I look forward to seeing all that he will achieve in this new role.”
“I could not be prouder to welcome Matt Kee to his new role as Deputy Chief of the Cuyahoga Falls Fire Department. There is no one more ready or better to build our new training program and guide the construction and implementation of our new training facility," said Fire Chief Chris Martin. “The CFFD has an extremely high standard for all officers and members, and Matt has always exceeded expectations, setting a high bar for all he has led throughout his career.”
“I am tremendously excited about this new position and the opportunity to advance some of the projects that our department spent years working towards, including revamping our training program and overseeing the construction of a fire training tower and classroom facility,” remarked Deputy Chief Matt Kee. “I look forward to working alongside Chief Martin and Assistant Chief Breese to doing everything we can to ensure that the Cuyahoga Falls Fire Department continues to perform at the elite level that our community has come to expect.”
Deputy Chief Matthew Kee began his career as a firefighter/paramedic with the Cuyahoga Falls Fire Department in August of 1997. He has served as Lieutenant (2007-2016) and, most recently, Battalion Chief (2016-2022). In addition to his supervisory duties, he has spent over five years overseeing department operations and emergency operations that include EMS, fire, special operations, dispatch, and intervention programming. He is a 2020 graduate of the Ohio Fire Chiefs Association – Ohio Fire Executive Program. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Fire Technology from the University of Cincinnati, where he maintains a 4.0-grade point average. Kee resides in Cuyahoga Falls with his wife Kimberly and sons Evan and Alex.