John Mattox announced as Shawnee Fire's new Chief

Posted: December 10, 2011 - 3:30pm

Shawnee City Manager Carol Gonzales announced recently that effective Monday, December 12th, Deputy Fire Chief John Mattox will be the department's new Fire Chief. John Mattox has been the Acting Fire Chief since September, when Jeff Hudson retired after 36 years with the Shawnee Fire Department. Hudson's last 10 years with the department were as Chief.

"John's extensive experience in the fire service, the roles he has played regionally and nationally in professional associations, and his formal and continuing education have prepared him well for this leadership role. The fire service is a changing industry, and I believe John Mattox is the best person to lead our outstanding department into the future," says City Manager Carol Gonzales.

Chief John Mattox began his fire service career as a volunteer in 1979, with the Edwardsville, Kansas Fire Department. He became a full time firefighter in 1986, was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1987 and another promotion to the rank of Assistant Fire Chief in 2000. Mattox joined the Shawnee Fire Department in 2001 as the city's Fire Marshal. In 2009, Shawnee reclassified the Fire Marshal position to Deputy Fire Chief and John was promoted to that position.

Mattox graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor's Degree in Management and Human Relations from Mid America Nazarene University. He is also a graduate of the Certified Public Manager (CPM) program through the University of Kansas. Chief Mattox is very active and has served in leadership positions in a variety of professional organizations. He currently serves as the President of the Kansas Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators and is the past Chairman of the Eastern Kansas Multi-County Arson Task Force, as well as a long time member of the Fire Marshals Association of Kansas.

All information provided by the City of Shawnee and the Shawnee Fire Department.

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