The City of Amarillo has announced today that Jason Mays has been promoted to be the new Amarillo Fire Department Fire Chief. Mays succeeds former AFD Fire Chief Jeff Greenlee, who recently announced his retirement, effective April 8. Mays, an Amarillo native, has been with AFD since March 1999. He has served in various capacities, including as AFD Deputy Chief of Operations.

“The city conducted an extensive and thorough search for the next fire chief,” City Manager Jared Miller said. “This was a competitive process with a strong field of candidates. Jason Mays possesses the experience, leadership and qualifications that have made the Amarillo Fire Department one of the top fire departments in the entire nation. Chief Mays will continue the Amarillo Fire Department’s long standard of excellence and public service.”

Mays will become the 10th fire chief in the history of the AFD, which was founded in 1897.

“I am immensely honored to be selected as the Amarillo Fire Department Fire Chief. I want to thank city management and retiring Fire Chief Jeff Greenlee for believing in me throughout this process,” Mays said. “I am indebted to the AFD members currently serving the Amarillo community, as well as everyone I have worked with in the past while serving this excellent department.”

Mays is certified as a Master Firefighter through the Texas Commission of Fire Protection and holds several other certificates, including Fire Officer IV, Fire Safety Officer and Master Fire Instructor. Recently, he received recognition as a Chief Fire Officer (CFO) and Chief Training Officer (CTO) from the Center for Public Safety Excellence – a development model that recognizes professional accomplishments and technical competence of fire service officers. There are fewer than 1,500 Chief Fire Officers who have received this credential, and fewer than 140 who have received the CTO recognition.

Most recently, Chief Mays served as Deputy Chief of Operations for the Amarillo Fire Department. There he oversaw all management functions of Training, Strategic and Tactical operations within the department.

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