Contact:  Denise Turner
Phone:  373-2002
                

Interim City Manager Announces Fire Chief Selection

GREENSBORO, NC -- (April 15, 2009) – Interim City Manager Bob Morgan today announced the selection of Gregory H. Grayson, Fire and Rescue Chief for the City of Asheville, N.C., to serve as Greensboro’s new Fire Chief. Grayson has significant executive experience in the fire service, having been Asheville’s Chief since 2000 and prior to that having served as Fire Chief for Burlington and Fire/Rescue Director for Wake County.

After attaining his associate’s degree in Fire Science, Grayson worked through the fire ranks in Cleveland County, at North Carolina State University and in Cary. In addition to his Fire education and experience, Grayson has a Bachelor’s degree in Education and a Master’s degree in Public Administration, supplemented by completion of two executive leadership institutes, one at the University of Virginia and the other at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has also attended the National Fire Academy.

Grayson has been recognized in many ways for his outstanding service; he was the third officer in North Carolina to receive the Chief Fire Officer Designation, and he was the first Firefighter to receive the North Carolina Advanced Firefighter Certificate. He was also recognized as Asheville City Government’s “Executive Manager of the Year” and subsequently as the Asheville-Buncombe region’s “Executive Manager of the Year.” He shared honors with his department when they earned a Class III rating from the ISO and then earned Internationally Accredited Agency status in 2005, the eighth city in North Carolina to do so.

Grayson has more than 25 years experience in law enforcement and recently served with the Asheville Police Department. He is active in his church, the United Way, Red Cross and other community causes.

In announcing the appointment, Interim City Manager Morgan said, “Grayson is a finalist from a field of over 40 applicants from across the country that performed the best in our assessment process and came highly recommended from those city managers under whom he has served. I believe Chief Grayson can provide the leadership to continue the tradition of excellence in the Greensboro Fire Department.”

Grayson, who will report at least initially to Interim City Manager Morgan, will resign from Asheville effective May 25 and will start work in Greensboro May 26.  “I look forward to serving together with the outstanding men and women of the Greensboro Fire Department. I am sincerely honored to have the opportunity to be part of leading this distinguished organization progressively forward,” stated Grayson. Grayson’s starting salary will be $127,637.  

Grayson will be here in early May to meet his new colleagues and members of the City Council and will also be made available to the media on that occasion.

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