CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – Clay County is searching the nation for its next fire rescue chief following the planned retirement of Chief Lorin Mock in April 2027.
Mock led Clay County Fire Rescue for more than 16 years. His career as a first responder spanned more than 40 years, including 27 years with the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, where he held senior leadership roles in fire operations and emergency management. He joined Clay County Fire Rescue in 2009.
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The county says it is seeking candidates with executive leadership experience in a complex fire rescue organization, covering areas such as fire suppression, emergency medical services, emergency management, labor relations, strategic planning, fiscal management, and organizational development.
“Chief Mock has fundamentally strengthened Clay County Fire Rescue and prepared the department to meet the needs of a rapidly growing community,” said County Manager Howard Wanamaker. “This nationwide search reflects both the importance of the position and our commitment to finding an exceptional leader who can build upon the strong foundation Chief Mock and the members of Clay County Fire Rescue have established.”
A legacy of innovation, growth
During Mock’s tenure, Clay County Fire Rescue expanded its capabilities, modernized facilities and equipment, and developed new approaches to emergency medical care and community health. Notable achievements include a comprehensive mental health program for first responders and the department’s award-winning Community Paramedicine program, which addresses opioid addiction and expands public access to automated external defibrillators and NARCAN.
In 2024, the Board of County Commissioners approved $65 million in financing for new and replacement fire stations, a fire training facility, and public safety communications infrastructure. The program incorporates modern firefighter health protections, including contaminant-control areas, vehicle exhaust systems, and spaces designed to support the mental and physical well-being of personnel.
Among the completed projects is Fire Station 20 in Green Cove Springs, which opened in 2025. The state-of-the-art facility is also home to Clay County’s first 9/11 Memorial, featuring structural steel recovered from the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Additional stations and public safety facilities are currently under construction or in development across the county.
Mock’s focus on responsible stewardship also led to cost-saving equipment decisions. In 2025, Clay County Fire Rescue acquired Heavy Rescue 15 - a specialized technical-rescue vehicle - for approximately $700,000 less than the anticipated cost of a comparable new apparatus, while avoiding an estimated 18- to 24-month manufacturing delay.
Honors, accolades for outgoing chief
The Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association named Mock the 2024 recipient of the Frank A. Babinec Lifetime Achievement Award in Firefighter Safety and Health. The award recognizes fire service professionals who have made an extraordinary impact on the well-being of firefighters and the public, citing Mock’s work in mental health, Community Paramedicine, opioid response, domestic security, and health-conscious fire station design.
Mock has also served on Florida’s Domestic Security Oversight Council, chaired the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association Domestic Security Resource Committee, and developed an emergency management course for the Association’s Executive Services Leadership Institute.
“It has been the honor of my career to serve the citizens of Clay County and to work alongside the dedicated men and women of Clay County Fire Rescue,” Mock said. “The accomplishments of this department belong to the firefighters, dispatchers, emergency management professionals, support staff, county leadership, and community partners who work every day to protect our communities. I am proud of what we have built together and confident that the department is positioned for continued success.”
What comes next
Clay County says it will use a structured, multiphase selection process that includes minimum-qualification screening, an executive review, standardized candidate evaluations, panel interviews, and on-site assessments. The county manager will retain final appointment authority.
The county aims to select a new fire chief by mid-to late December, followed by a 30- to 60-day onboarding period and a structured transition with Mock.
Click here to view the application. The county will accept applications through September 25.