Deputy Chief Michael Carswell began his fire service as a volunteer firefighter with Lovelady Fire Department, and in 2004, was hired as a full-time firefighter with the City of Hickory Fire Department. Chief Carswell has served various roles for the City of Hickory including Fire Apparatus Operator, Captain-Suppression, Captain-Training, and  Battalion Chief-Training prior to this promotion to Deputy Chief of Operations. Chief Carswell is a qualified instructor in both Structure Live Fire and Liquid Propane Gas and has achieved Level III Fire Service Instructor.  Chief Carswell has also completed the North Carolina Chief Fire Officers Training Manager Program, as well as several classes with the National Fire Academy located in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Chief Carswell received an Associate degree in Emergency Management from Caldwell Community & Technical College.   In 2024, Carswell graduated from Fayetteville State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Fire and Emergency Services Administration.