GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Gwinnett County has never had a black fire chief but that’s about to change in less than a month.
Channel 2′s Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson sat down with the man who is making history in Georgia’s most diverse county.
More than 20 years ago, Fred Cephas came to Gwinnett County as a firefighter. He told Channel 2 Action News he always admired the people of color who were in leadership, and soon he will make history as the county’s first-ever black fire chief.
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“(It’s) a very humbling experience and I take that pretty serious,” he said. “I understand what it means and it’s special, but my focus is on the work that needs to be done, and that’s for everybody.”
The Air Force veteran has been with the Gwinnett County Fire Department for going on 22 years.
He’s currently the second-in-command but started as a firefighter in 2001.
He told Channel 2 Action News he still remembers his admiration of a black battalion chief he worked with.
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“I remember the first time I seen him and it was like wow, a person that looks like me has made it to that level, I would love to aspire to be like him,” Cephas said.
Now he aspires to lead the fire department into the next decade and beyond with a focus on improving technology and boosting staffing.
“Setting us up for the 10-15 years is something I’m going to be focused on,” he told Channel 2′s Matt Johnson.
On Tuesday the board of commissioners approved a recommendation to make Cephas fire chief. His first day is April 1st.
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