Fort Walton Beach Fire Chief Jeremy Morgan retires after 25 years of dedicated service
Fort Walton Beach, Florida – Fort Walton Beach Fire Chief Jeremy Morgan is officially stepping down after 25 years of committed service. He will retire on July 1, ending a long and successful career that began in 1999, shortly after he finished fire academy training at Pensacola Junior College.
At the City Council meeting on Tuesday night, Chief Morgan was honored for his decades of service, professional advancement, and dedication to keeping people safe. Over the years, he progressively moved up the ranks in the department, starting as a firefighter and working his way up to Driver/Engineer, Captain, Battalion Chief, and finally Deputy Chief in 2021. In November 2022, he was named Fire Chief.
Morgan didn’t just respond to emergencies while he was with the department; he also created a culture of growth and opportunity. During his time, the number of calls to the fire department went up since more tourists were coming to the area. However, the department was able to keep up because of his consistent leadership and investment in training and readiness.
Morgan also had exceptional skills because he had worked in the county’s exceptional Operations Unit and had earned various degrees in fire science and emergency management. Since 2003, he has been a certified paramedic.
Morgan’s retirement ends one chapter, but it also opens the door to a new, significant one. The outgoing chief will directly give over the job to his chosen successor, Deputy Fire Chief Thearon Shipman, for the first time in the city’s history.
Shipman will take over as Fire Chief on July 2. He has more than 20 years of expertise combating fires. He joined the department in August 2002 and rapidly gained a reputation for being the best. He became an Engineer in 2008 and then a Captain in 2015, where he was very important in helping firefighters grow and coordinating EMS.
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Shipman has previously worked as the department’s EMS coordinator and as a teacher for the American Heart Association, where he taught CPR and other lifesaving skills for children and adults. He was made Battalion Chief in 2024, and in February of this year, he was made Deputy Fire Chief.
Shipman will also make history as the first African American to be head of a civilian fire department in Okaloosa County when he is promoted. The city is happy to reach this milestone and looks forward to the department’s ongoing growth under his direction.
Fort Walton Beach says goodbye to Chief Morgan and thanks him for a great career. Now the town is ready to welcome Chief Shipman, a proven leader who is ready to take the department into its next chapter.
