Chief Carpenter is a lifetime resident of the Charlottesville community who became a volunteer firefighter at the age of 15. After officially beginning his fire service journey in 1989, he joined Charlottesville Fire Department in 2000. As the Deputy Chief of Emergency Services, his duties include oversight of all emergency response activities, strategic planning, and logistics. Since 2000, Chief Carpenter has served as a Firefighter, Medic, Captain, and Battalion Chief; he was an original member of the department’s Hazardous Materials Response Team. Chief Carpenter holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Leadership and is a state-certified Fire Instructor and Fire Officer.