Mayor Coleman Names Gregory Paxton As New Fire Chief of Columbus

Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman has named Gregory Paxton as the city’s new fire chief. Paxton replaces Ned Pettus who retired earlier this year. Paxton joined the Division of Fire in 1981. He worked a number of different engine and ladder assignments, as well as paramedic assignments, before being promoted to lieutenant in 1988. He was promoted to captain in 1991, to battalion chief in 1994, to deputy chief in 2000 and to assistant chief in 2002. As an assistant chief, he served as the city’s fire marshal, the chief of the training bureau, and as the executive officer, which is second in command of the Division of Fire. Paxton is a lifelong resident of Columbus and holds bachelor's and master’s degrees from Ohio State University. He’s currently working toward a doctorate in the Fisher College of Business at OSU prompting Mayor Coleman to say: “After he obtains his Ph.D., we’re going to call him Dr. Fire Chief.â€?