JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department Chief Keith Powers will retire on June 30 after more than two decades of service.
According to the city, Powers will continue to be a “mentor and resource” in the process of appointing the next chief.
“It has been the honor of my lifetime to represent the brave men and women who put their lives on the line each day and serve our community, both on and off duty,” said JFRD Chief Keith Powers in a statement. “They are the reason that JFRD is the best fire department in the country. I will be forever grateful for their courage and dedication to Jacksonville. I also want to thank Mayor Deegan for the opportunity to continue serving and for her always strong commitment to public safety.”
In a statement, Mayor Donna Deegan commended Powers’ service to the city for almost 30 years.
“From Mobile Stroke and Critical Care Units to Emergency Road Access Teams during storms to a high school athlete training scholarship program, these firsts for JFRD are testaments to the innovation that occurred during his time as Chief. I thank him for his many decades of service to the city and deep love for the department,” Deegan said.
She also said that she and Powers had been talking about his retirement for a while.
“He’s got a new grandbaby on the way, and he said, ‘I’d love to be around to help with the transition to the next person, but I really want the freedom to be able to do some things with family,’ and we get that, obviously he had another year he could have stayed, but decided this was the best time for him,” Deegan said.
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters also provided a statement on the matter, sending Powers “nothing but the best” as his time as chief comes to an end.
“Chief Powers has been a trusted friend and partner while serving this city. I’m grateful for his many years of leadership and commitment to the community we both care so deeply about. Wishing him nothing but the best in his well-deserved retirement,” Waters said.
Powers’ tenure with JFRD exceeds two decades and includes more than ten years of administrative experience. He was appointed as Director/Fire Chief in November 2019, and city council unanimously confirmed his appointment on Jan. 14, 2020.
In 1996, Powers became a member of JFRD and his first assignment was Fire Station 17 in Woodstock Park off Beaver Street.
He was promoted through the ranks of engineer, lieutenant and captain and was deployed across the state on several large wildland fires during the 1998 fire season. Powers was also deployed with the Urban Search and Rescue Team during Hurricane Katrina.
He received six departmental awards for his actions on calls.
Powers joined JFRD’s administrative team in 2013 to manage the Tactical Support Facility. He was responsible for the maintenance and repairs of the 550 vehicles assigned to the fire department. Powers was appointed to his position as fire chief by former Mayor Lenny Curry. Curry released a statement that said in part:
“His integrity, professionalism, and compassion set the standard for public service and made our city a stronger, safer place,” Curry said. “Appointing Chief Powers during my administration was one of the proudest and best decisions during my time as Mayor of Jacksonville.”
City Council President Randy White released a statement on Powers’ retirement.
“As the former Deputy Director Assistant Fire Chief, I know firsthand the weight of the badge and the heart it takes to lead,” White said. “Chief Powers has given his career—and his calling—to serving and protecting this city. I’ve watched with pride and admiration as he led JFRD with strength, compassion, and a deep commitment to his firefighters and our community. His retirement marks the end of an incredible chapter for JFRD, but his legacy of service will remain a guiding example. On behalf of the City Council-- I thank Chief Powers and wish him nothing but happiness and peace in this next chapter."
White also confirmed to News4JAX that Powers was on the Deferred Option Retirement Program (DROP) and opted to take his retirement.
City officials said the next fire chief will be selected through an open selection process over the next six weeks, with their appointment beginning on July 1.
The city and JFRD will announce the process for candidates to submit applications in the coming weeks and provide more information to the public as this transition period progresses.
Kelly Dobson, president of the Jacksonville Association of Firefighters, said, “We had no clue this was going to happen.”
