Meet Our Partners

Chief Will May Biography

Chief Will May represents the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the local Fire Service on the Southeastern Regional Strategy Committee (SRSC). Chief May is helping examine where regional wildfire issues and barriers related to the three Strategic Missions of the Cohesive Strategy are identified and defined and provided for analysis by the National Science and Analysis Team.

Chief May retired January 31, 2010, following a 34-plus year career in the Fire and Emergency Services, from the Alachua County Department of Public Safety, where he served as Fire Chief and Public Safety Director for over 19 years. Chief May has been active in the IAFC including the Wildland Fire Policy Committee; the Technology Council; and has represented the IAFC on the National Wildfire Coordinating Group’s Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Committee since 2005.

Chief May has deployed extensively within the State of Florida to wildfire and hurricane emergencies, and to western states on wildland fire. He is retired from the U.S. Navy at the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 3 with 28-years combined active duty and reserve service.

Chief May enjoys fishing, hiking, photography, and travel in addition to his volunteer work with the IAFC.