Chief Bio
Fire Chief
Kevin Lanier
Fire Chief Kevin J. Lanier was appointed Fire Chief of Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services in May 2026, following more than 25 years of dedicated service to the department and the citizens of Cherokee County. Prior to his appointment as Fire Chief, he served as Deputy Chief of Support Services and previously as Deputy Chief of Field Operations, where he provided leadership for emergency response operations, personnel development, and strategic initiatives across the organization.
Chief Lanier began his career with Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services in 2000 and has served progressively through every rank within the organization. In 2021, he was promoted to Division Chief and served as the A-Shift Commander. That same year, he earned designation as a Georgia Chief Fire Officer through the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs and has since earned his Georgia Fire Chief Certification through the same association. Chief Lanier also holds an associate degree in Fire Science from Columbia Southern University.
As Fire Chief, Chief Lanier is committed to advancing the department’s mission of protecting life and property through professional service, operational excellence, and community engagement. He places a strong emphasis on leadership development, firefighter safety, and maintaining the high level of service that the citizens of Cherokee County expect and deserve.
Outside of the fire service, Chief Lanier remains deeply involved in the Cherokee County community. He has spent more than 18 years coaching youth sports and has been actively involved with the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce and numerous local civic organizations.
