The City of Goldsboro has selected Ron Stempien as the new chief of the Goldsboro Fire Department. Stempien’s start date is June 30. His salary will be $92,000.
Stempien was selected after a broad search for candidates that yielded 51 applicants. City Manager Tim Salmon and Human Resources Director Bernadette Dove narrowed the pool of applications and sent their top 12 to Developmental Associates, a professional talent identification consultant, which further narrowed the field to five.
“Our top five candidates went through a rigorous selection process involving subject matter experts and fire chiefs from communities across the state of North Carolina, and Ron came out on top,” Salmon said. “I look forward to what he will do for our firefighters and the City of Goldsboro.”
Stempien currently serves as Assistant Chief of Support Services for the Goldsboro Fire Department, where he has worked for the last 25 years. Stempien began his career with GFD as a firefighter in 1996. He was promoted to fire engineer in 1998, fire captain in 2004, and assistant chief in 2019. In addition, Stempien has served as an emergency services instructor since 2005. Prior to joining the Goldsboro Fire Department, Stempien served for four years in the United States Air Force as a fire protection specialist.
“I am humbled for the opportunity to serve as the next fire chief of Goldsboro. I look forward to continuing to work with the employees of the Goldsboro Fire Department and the citizens to embody the mission, vision and values of the City of Goldsboro,” Stempien said.
Stempien, a Detroit, Mich. native, holds an associate’s degree in Emergency Preparedness from Nash Community College and will receive his bachelor’s degree in Public and Non-Profit Administration in December 2021 from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Stempien holds numerous specialized fire-related certifications, has received an array of awards during his military and firefighting career, and he is active in several associations.