Jason Payne will be introduced to the Town Council this week as the Fountain Hills Rural/Metro Fire Department Assistant Chief/Fire Marshal.

Payne fills the vacancy left with the retirement of Chief Randy Roberts and promotion of his assistant, Dave Ott to the chief position.

Born in Dallas, Texas, Payne lived in Australia and Germany before coming back to the U.S. living in several states.

He came to Arizona when his dad took a job with Garret Systems. A graduate of Dobson High School in Mesa, Payne attended ASU before deciding to become a firefighter. He received his AA in Fire Science from Mesa Community College. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from University of Phoenix.

Payne now has 20 years in the fire service with Rural/Metro, Fort McDowell Fire Department and Salt River Fire Department. He holds certifications for Inspector I and II, fire investigation and plan review. He became a Certified Emergency Paramedic in 1991.

He has taught fire engineering at Scottsdale Community College and assisted at SCC with paramedic school.

“I love the scenery and small town atmosphere in Fountain Hills,” Payne said. “I want to live and work in the same place. I look forward to the opportunity to work as assistant chief and fire marshal.”

Payne currently lives in Gilbert with a son and daughter. He plans to relocate to Fountain Hills when the school year concludes next spring.

He said his daughter has aspirations to attend the Air Force Academy to become a fighter pilot. She comes by the passion for flight in her genes. Her grandfather was a pilot and Payne said he earned is pilot’s license and his driver license the same day.