Public Safety

Fort Walton Beach Fire Chief Jeremy Morgan retiring after 25 years, Shipman selected as new chief

Fort Walton Beach Fire Chief Jeremy Morgan is retiring after 25 years with the department, with Deputy Fire Chief Thearon Shipman selected as his replacement.

Jared Williams

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Fort Walton Beach Fire Chief Jeremy Morgan is retiring after 25 years with the department, and Deputy Fire Chief Thearon Shipman has been selected to take over as the city’s new fire chief.

Morgan started his career at the Fort Walton Beach Fire Department shortly after graduating from the fire academy at Pensacola Junior College in 1999. He worked his way up through the ranks with promotions to Driver/Engineer in 2008, Captain in 2012, Battalion Chief in 2017, and Deputy Fire Chief in 2021.

During his time with the city, Morgan earned multiple fire science degrees as well as a bachelor’s degree in emergency management. He served in Okaloosa County’s Special Operations Unit, which included rope-based rescue and hazmat response teams, and has been paramedic certified since 2003.

Morgan was appointed Fire Chief in November 2022. Under his leadership, the department has handled increased demands as fire service calls have increased more than 30 percent over the past few years, largely due to a surge in tourists visiting the community despite the city’s stable population.

For the first time in city history, the outgoing chief will directly hand off responsibilities to his replacement, who is being promoted from within the department ranks.

Deputy Chief Thearon Shipman will officially become fire chief effective July 2, 2025. Shipman is a veteran of the Fort Walton Beach Fire Department with more than 22 years of firefighting service and will be the first African American to serve as fire chief of a civilian fire department in Okaloosa County.

Shipman began his career with the department in August 2002 and was promoted to Engineer in 2008, where he became known as one of the best engineers on the team. His dedication and leadership earned him a promotion to Captain in 2015, where he made a significant impact on firefighter training and development.

Shipman also served as the department’s EMS coordinator, working closely with county EMS to ensure all firefighters were up to date on the latest protocols and training. He became an American Heart Association instructor, teaching CPR, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, and Pediatric Advanced Life Support.

In 2024, Shipman was promoted to Battalion Chief, where he oversaw A-shift, and in February 2025 he was promoted to Deputy Fire Chief.

A change of command ceremony has been scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday, July 18, 2025 at the Fort Walton Beach Fire Station 6 on Hollywood Boulevard.

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