Meet the Fire Administration

Fire Chief Damien Locklear

Fire Chief
Damien Locklear

Email:  Damien.Locklear@ci.kinston.nc.us
Phone:  252-939-3164

Chief Locklear started with the Kinston Department of Fire & Rescue in January 2019.  Previous fire service experience includes affiliations with Evans Cross Roads Fire Department, Cumberland Road Fire Department, and the City of Fayetteville Fire Department.  Since starting his career in 2005, Chief Locklear has been afforded the opportunity to serve in many capacities to include Suppression/Operations, Recruitment, Fire & Life Safety Education, Training, and Administration. 


Chief Locklear is certified in many areas of the fire service.  Some of these include; Fire Officer III, Technical Rescuer, Fire Instructor II, Fire & Life Safety Education III, Chief 101, and Emergency Medical Technician.  Chief Locklear holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fire Science Administration and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Waldorf University, Forest City, Iowa.  

Chief Locklear believes strongly in the current mission of the department and has placed his focus on a proactive vision for the department’s future.  One that is based on continuous improvement moving forward as we provide the highest level of professional service to our customers through Pride, Proficiency & Integrity.  The foundation of this vision begins with a high emphasis on Training, Physical Fitness & Mental Health, Community Involvement, Pride & Ownership, Communication, and Morale. 


Deputy Fire Chief Chad Jackson

Deputy Fire Chief
Chad Jackson


​Email:  Chad.Jackson@ci.kinston.nc.us

​Phone:  252-526-2712



Captain Jackson began his career with the Department in 2003.  Deputy Fire Chief Jackson went quickly through the ranks and became an Operations Captain on A Shift in April of 2014.  He served as Captain with several different companies and is a member of the Fire Origin and Cause Investigation Team.  Deputy Fire Chief Jackson has certified in many different categories within the career field of Firefighting such as Technical Rescuer, Confined Space Rescuer, Paramedic, Fire Officer I and II and Level I Fire Inspector.  He is a Qualified North Carolina Firefighter Instructor as well.  Deputy Fire Chief Jackson completed the Executive Fire Officer Leadership Program through Wilson Community College.  

In October of 2021, Deputy Fire Chief Jackson became the Training Captain and the Department Safety Officer within the Department of Fire and Rescue.  In June of 2022, Deputy Fire Chief Jackson received his State of North Carolina Standard Certificate for Fire Inspector Level II, with his Probationary Certification as a Fire Inspector Level III.  In October of 2022, he was officially promoted to the Rank of Deputy Fire Chief of the Kinston Department of Fire and Rescue.  



Captain William Barss

Administration Captain
William J. Barss III


​Email:  William.Barss@ci.kinston.nc.us

Phone:  252-526-2713



Captain Barss began his career with the Department in November of 1998.  Captain Barss expressed his interest in serving in the experimental program of Special Response Unit, under the merger of the Kinston Department of Public Safety where the Administration of the Fire and Police integrated a team of five Firefighters and five Police Officers and taught them the other skills of the merged program.  In December of 2004 Captain Barss successfully completed Basic Law Enforcement Training and in April of 2005 was sworn in as a Public Safety Officer.  Captain Barss was assigned to Special Response Unit 2 and served for six years on the street doing both Firefighting and Law Enforcement.  

During that time Captain Barss was assigned as the Unit's Evidence Identification Technician which sparked interest in the Crime Scene Investigations.  In January of 2011 Captain Barss was promoted over to Crime Laboratory Unit Detective and served for five years in that position.  Captain Barss was afforded the opportunity to return to the Department of Fire and Rescue upon the split of Kinston Department of Public Safety to their perspective Departments of Fire and Rescue and Police.  Captain Barss was tasked as becoming the Administration Captain and promoted to Captain in July of 2016.  

Captain Barss has several functions to his role within the Department of Fire and Rescue; such as Fire Origin and Cause Investigator and is still a sworn Law Enforcement Officer and serves as the manager of the Origin and Cause Fire Investigations Team, Public Information Officer, Fire-Life Safety Educator Level III/Public Education Coordinator, Emergency Planner and Community Relations Liaison Officer.  In August of 2018 Captain Barss received his Certification as a Fire Investigations Technician from the International Association of Arson Investigators.  In June of 2022, Captain Barss received his State of North Carolina Standard Certificate for Fire Inspector Level I, with his Probationary Certification as a Fire Inspector Level II. 


Captain Barss served Our Country for four years in the United States Marine Corps from August 1993 to August 1997.



Captain Tim Mooring

Training Captain
Timothy Mooring


​Email:  Timothy.Mooring@ci.kinston.nc.us

Phone:  252-939-3939



Biography Information Coming Soon.


Captain Jason Lee

Fire Inspector
Captain Jason Lee

​Email:  Jason.Lee@ci.kinston.nc.us

Phone:  252-939-3228



Captain Lee started volunteering at Ablertson Fire Department in 1993.  Captain Lee received his Firefighter I and II Certifications along with Airport Firefighting and Rescue Certification from the Department of Defense in November 2005.  He started his career at the Kinston Department of Fire and Rescue in November 2012.  Captain Lee received Fire Inspections Level I in July 2018 and his Probationary Level II in July 2020.  He was promoted through the ranks and was promoted to Captain in March 2019. 

He Received the official title of Fire Inspector in June 2020.  Captain Lee has obtained his Fire and Life safety Educator Level I and II.  In May of 2022, Captain Lee received his State of North Carolina Standard Certificate for Fire Inspector Level II, with his Probationary Certification as a Fire Inspector Level III.  

Captain Lee served Our Country in the United States Air Force as an Air Force Firefighter.
Administration Assistant Britany Baughman

Administration Assistant  
Britany Baughman


Email:  Britany.Baughman@ci.kinston.nc.us
Phone:  252-939-3164



Ms. Baughman was born and raised in Lenoir and Greene County. In 2012 she worked at her local stores. Until 2014 where she then worked at Gold's Gym as a Supervisor. Ms. Baughman then started with the City of Kinston as of October 2015 as a Customer Service Representative. She transferred from Customer Service to an Administrative Assistant for Kinston Department of Fire and Rescue in June 2020.