06/24/2026
Meet Holmes County Fire Rescue Fire Chief Jeff McVay
We would like to introduce everyone to the new Holmes County Fire Rescue Fire Chief, Jeff McVay.
Chief McVay joins the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office Fire Rescue Division with more than 30 years of public safety experience and a lifelong commitment to serving his community.
His public safety journey began as a volunteer firefighter with the Red Bay Volunteer Fire Department in Walton County, where he rose through the ranks serving as a firefighter, training officer, assistant chief, and eventually chief. In 1994, Chief McVay began his professional career with the Walton County Sheriff’s Office.
Throughout his distinguished career, Chief McVay has served in numerous roles, including firefighter for the State of Florida, Emergency Management Coordinator, and Hazardous Materials Technician for Walton County. He also developed and launched Walton County’s Beach Code Enforcement Program, earning a Level IV Code Enforcement Officer certification. Later, he returned to Walton County Fire Rescue, where he became widely respected as a “fireman’s fireman.”
Known for mentoring young firefighters and sharing his extensive field experience, Chief McVay has always been passionate about developing the next generation of first responders. Having started as a junior firefighter himself, he authored many of the policies that established Walton County Fire Rescue’s Cadet Program, which continues to grow and succeed today.
During his career, Chief McVay has been deployed on 38 disaster response missions, ranging from the Mediterranean fruit fly infestation in South Florida to Hurricane Katrina in Mississippi. He has received multiple letters of commendation from the State of Florida for his wildfire response efforts, grain bin rescues, and leadership during disaster operations. As a Task Force Leader during Hurricane Katrina, he was honored in Pearlington, Mississippi, during the one-year anniversary commemoration of the storm’s landfall.
In recognition of his dedication and service, Chief McVay also received the Presidential Service Award from the President of the United States for his participation and commitment to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team.
Chief McVay has long been a visionary leader. Recognizing the need for greater coordination among volunteer fire departments, he proposed the creation of a Fire Coordinator position in Walton County to help support and manage volunteer agencies. His foresight played a key role in the evolution of Walton County’s fire service system, and he served on the interview panel that hired the county’s first six firefighter/paramedics—laying the foundation for what would become Walton County Fire Rescue.
With the same dedication to volunteers, commitment to public service, and passion for building strong organizations, we are confident that Chief McVay will help lead Holmes County Fire Rescue into a bright future. We look forward to his leadership as we continue building a fire rescue system that the citizens of Holmes County can be proud to call their own.
Please join us in welcoming Fire Chief Jeff McVay to Holmes County Fire Rescue. 🚒🇺🇸
