Operations and Professional Development

Assistant Fire Chief William Jason Baker has dedicated his life to service, leadership, and the community he proudly calls home. As Assistant Chief of Operations and Training for the Statesboro Fire Department, he brings more than 25 years of experience, commitment, and a deep appreciation for the people and traditions that make the department what it is. Chief Baker began his career with the Statesboro Fire Department in 2001 as a rookie firefighter and has had the privilege of serving in nearly every operational role within the department, including Driver Engineer, Company Officer, Battalion Chief, and now Assistant Chief. After serving eight years as Battalion Chief and the past eight years as Assistant Chief, he has been fortunate to learn from those who came before him while helping support the department’s mission of protecting the citizens, businesses, and visitors of Statesboro. Chief Baker believes the strength of the Statesboro Fire Department has always been its people. He values the opportunity to train alongside firefighters at every stage of their careers, share lessons learned through experience, and help foster a culture built on trust, accountability, and taking care of one another. Chief Baker holds technician-level certifications in multiple rescue disciplines and is a Nationally Registered EMT-Basic. Before joining the Statesboro Fire Department, he served in the United States Navy as a shipboard firefighter and rescue swimmer, where his passion for service, teamwork, and leadership first took shape. For Chief Baker, serving with the Statesboro Fire Department has never just been a career—it has been an opportunity to serve his community, support his fellow firefighters, and help leave the department stronger for the next generation.

Merritt Kearns is a 20-year veteran of the Statesboro Fire Department and has served as Battalion Chief of A Shift since 2018. Prior to joining Statesboro Fire, he began his career in public safety with the Savannah Fire Department. In addition to his operational leadership role, Chief Kearns serves as the department’s Health & Safety Officer, where he oversees health & wellness initiatives focused on firefighter fitness, medical evaluations, and behavioral health programs. Chief Kearns is an active member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs - Safety, Health & Survival Section, the Fire Department Safety Officers Association, and the Georgia Fire Chiefs Association. Through successful grant awards, including the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance Grant, the Firehouse Public Safety Foundation Grant, and the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, Chief Kearns has helped expand and strengthen the health & wellness programs offered to Statesboro Fire personnel. Chief Kearns has earned degrees from West Georgia Technical College, Rutgers University, and Georgia Southern University.  He holds national certifications including Incident Safety Officer, Health & Safety Officer, Fire Officer III, Fire Instructor II, and Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT). His professional accomplishments include recognition as Bulloch County Public Safety Officer of the Year, the IAFC Future Leaders Award, and selection as a two-time IAFC scholarship recipient.

Battalion Chief Steven Morris has proudly served the Statesboro Fire Department and the citizens of Statesboro for 27 years. Throughout his career, he has advanced through the ranks and has served as Battalion Chief for the past 12 years. In his current role, Chief Morris responds to a wide range of emergency incidents, including Fire emergencies, hazardous materials situations, road traffic collisions, and other emergencies that threaten life, property, and the environment. He is committed to protecting the community through strong leadership, experience, and dedication to public service.

Captain Parker Johnson began his fire service career after graduating from a Florida fire academy in 2008 and moved to Georgia in 2012 to join the Statesboro Fire Department as a firefighter. Today, he serves as the Training Captain for the Statesboro Fire Department, where he coordinates and provides state and national level training courses ranging from 8-hour certifications to 80-hour specialized programs.  Captain Johnson also manages department training records to ensure the department remains state compliant and continues meeting ISO training requirements. Captain Johnson holds multiple state and national certifications that help create and provide advanced training opportunities throughout the region. He is dedicated to providing the highest level of training possible to the department and neighboring agencies to ensure firefighters continue delivering the best service to the community and its visitors. One of his biggest passions is building strong regional partnerships with fellow training officers throughout southeast Georgia because strong training builds confident firefighters.