Brian Taylor

Brian Taylor began his career in the fire service at just 16 years old, volunteering as a Junior Firefighter with the Norwood Center Rural Volunteer Fire Department and as a Fire Explorer with Post 17 at the Albemarle Fire Department. He pursued general studies at Stanly Community College before officially launching his professional journey in 1992 as a firefighter with the City of Albemarle. During this time, he also served part-time with the Stanly County Fire Marshal’s Office as a Fire Inspector and Investigator.

 In October 2000, Brian was promoted to Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of Albemarle—a role that reflected his commitment and leadership in the field. He holds numerous fire and rescue certifications in North Carolina and has completed advanced training through respected institutions such as the National Fire Academy, UNC School of Government, and the UNC Charlotte Fire and Rescue Management Institute.

 Brian currently serves as North Carolina’s first Independent State Fire Marshal, a position appointed by and reporting directly to the General Assembly, subject to confirmation by both legislative chambers. In this role, he oversees the eight divisions within the Office of State Fire Marshal and also serves as Executive Director of the NC Fire and Rescue Commission, NC Fire Training Director with the North American Fire Training Directors (NAFTD), and Commissioner on the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC).

 At the national level, Brian is Vice President of the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) and actively participates in several national committees dedicated to advancing fire safety and emergency response.

Since witnessing the widespread impact of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina, Brian has traveled across the country to advocate for the vital role of public-private partnerships in emergency management, emphasizing the key lessons learned from the response and recovery efforts following the storm.

 Brian and his wife, Kathy, reside in Albemarle, North Carolina, where they enjoy raising their five children and spending time with their four grandchildren.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ncasfm-briantaylor/