City Manager Ron Ferris announced the appointment of Keith Bryer as the City of Palm Beach Gardens Fire Department’s 4th Fire Chief. He will lead the Palm Beach Gardens Fire Department, an organization of 121 employees, overseeing an annual budget of $22 million, effective August 22, 2016. His annual salary is $140,137.
“I am proud to announce that after a vacancy advertised statewide, which resulted in over 60 applicants, our management has unanimously recommended Keith Bryer as the person they believe has the necessary skills to take our Fire Department to the next level,” said Ron Ferris, City Manager.
A panel of ten City department heads interviewed a total of eight candidates; all with impressive backgrounds and varying degrees of experience. At the end of the interview process, this panel unanimously recommended Keith Bryer for the position of Fire Chief of the Palm Beach Gardens Fire Department.
Chief Bryer’s career spans 26 years, all with the Palm Beach Gardens Fire Department. He has worked his way up through the ranks, beginning his career as a volunteer before working as a Firefighter/EMT, Firefighter/Paramedic, Fire Safety Inspector, Chief Fire Inspector, Division Chief of EMS overseeing emergency medical services and, eventually, to his current position as Deputy Chief of Operations. Most notably, Chief Bryer spearheaded the department’s forward thinking move to use evidence based medicine in its treatment of cardiac arrest patients, which drastically improved survival rates to some of the best in the country.
“I’m honored to be selected as the City’s next Fire Chief”, said Bryer. “With our dedicated personnel and support from the City Council and City Manager, we will continue to meet the ever changing needs of our community. We are at a pivotal point in planning the department’s future leadership to ensure that our level of service remains consistent. As Fire Chief, my goal will be to continue our current path as leaders in the fire service through excellent customer service, innovation and community partnerships.”
Chief Bryer has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Northwood University and an associate’s degree in both Emergency Medical Services and Fire Science Technology from Palm Beach State Community College. In addition, he has worked in the private sector as a paramedic instructor, as well as for Palm Beach State College as adjunct faculty.