Matt Hutchinson - Fire Chief

Matthew Hutchinson began his firefighting career as a volunteer firefighter, and in 2003, he was hired as a full-time firefighter with the Hickory Fire Department. He moved through the ranks, eventually serving as Battalion Chief over Logistics, Battalion Chief/Fire Marshal over the Fire & Life Safety Division, and currently the Fire Chief of the deparment. Hutchinson has certifications as a Fire Service Instructor Level II, Level II Firefighter, Fire & Life Safety Educator I-III, and Technical Rescuer through the North Carolina Fire & Rescue Commission. Hutchinson continues to maintain his certifications as an Emergency Medical Technician and as a Fire Inspector. He is currently working to obtain his certification as a Certified Fire Investigator. In 1994, he graduated from UNC-Asheville with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice. In December 2008, he completed his Master’s degree in Public Administration from Appalachian State University. In April 2017, Hutchinson completed the prestigious four-year Executive Fire Officer Program through the National Fire Academy (NFA). He has North Carolina Fire Officer I, II, & III certifications, Incident Command System 100-400 certifications, and the Chief 101 certification. Hutchison is also a graduate of the Fire and Rescue Management Institute through UNC-Charlotte, which provides instruction in leadership, team building, management skills, strategic planning, communication skills, and personnel management. The program is designed to prepare participants to become more effective in the increasingly challenging and complex world of fire and rescue management.