A Leader and a Scholar: New Fire Chief Bringing Passion to the Job

Former Clark County Deputy Fire Chief Kenneth Morgan has a record of success and has proven himself as an established community leader in Nevada. Now the 54-year-old is hoping to do the same thing as he brings his expertise and passion for learning to Meriden.

Morgan, who was officially named as the successor to soon-to-retire Fire Chief James Trainor on Tuesday, is looking to build a new legacy and enjoy new experiences as he moves coast to coast to take over as Meriden’s new fire chief.

The 54-year-old will be coming to Meriden in about three weeks, moving to the area with his wife Dona, and said in a phone interview Tuesday evening that he’s excited to take in the culture and history in central Connecticut and become an integral member of an already great team.

“Moving east has always been something my wife and I had talked about,” he said. “When we came to the area, we were instantly attracted to everything it had to offer; the location, the history – it was exactly the opportunity we were looking for.”

The department is the right size – not nearly as big as the county department with 850 personnel and 10 battalions he once led in Nevada, but not too small to leave him without enough challenges – and the community proved caring and responsive, he said.

So when the opportunity came up as Meriden went forward with a nationwide search four months ago, Morgan jumped at the opportunity to apply for the job.

And with his experience and determination to constantly grow and learn as an individual, members of two separate panels that included out-of-town fire chiefs and a host of fire, public safety and elected officials in Meriden felt Morgan was the perfect fit.

A four-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Morgan found a niche for public service instantly and went on to become a certified paramedic in North Dakota. He proceeded to serve in the state for eight years before being hired to the Clark County Fire Department.

While with the department, he continued to grow as a leader and a scholar, eventually receiving a Master’s degree from Cogswell Polytechnical College in 2003. Meanwhile, he worked his way through the ranks to the position of deputy fire chief before retiring to pursue his doctorate at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas while serving as an adjunct professor.

“I’ve always tried to improve and grow as an individual and a leader,” he said. “Education is something we always told our children was important and I wanted to prove to them I meant that.”

City Manager Lawrence Kendzior could not be reached for comment Tuesday, but told a Southington commission last month that he was one of three well-qualified and talented finalists selected from a pool of more than 40 applicants for the position.

Personnel Director Caroline Beitman told media outlets that they were impressed and extremely pleased with the quality of leaders and look forward to bringing Morgan on board.

Aside from his work with the Clark County Fire Department, Morgan is also a member of the International Association of Fire Fighters, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Society of Executive Fire Officials and the National Association of Emergency Medical Service.

He has also done work as a board member with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Morgan said as he moves to the Meriden area with his wife, he is simply looking to learn more about how the department works and is ready to take on the challenges which will include improving services and reducing costs to the taxpayer.

He will spend his first month working alongside Trainor to get a handle on how things work, officials said.

“My job is to get the best from the personnel we have, but to find a way to manage the department and do so in a manner that is fiscally responsible to the taxpayers we serve,” he said. “I’m looking forward to starting this new journey and take on these challenges.”

Make sure to like Meriden Patch on Facebook or follow on Twitter for breaking news, daily updates and more!