Meet Newberry's New Fire Chief Mike Vogel

Mike Vogel takes over this week as Fire Chief after the retirement of Fire Chief Ben Buckner, who has retired after 28 years of service to the community. 

With over 29 years of fire experience, with the last 4 years as Assistant Fire Chief with Alachua County Fire Rescue, Chief Vogel brings outstanding leadership and expertise in Fire Operations, Administration, EMS, and Emergency Management to the City of Newberry. 

"Hiring a new fire chief was a competitive process for the city due to the department's success and dedication to public service," City Manager Mike New said. "However, Mike stood out to the hiring committee as the best fit for the Newberry Fire Department. He is highly qualified and brings an incredible amount of experience with him. We are thrilled to have him join our team, and I look forward to working with him as we take our fire department to new heights together."

As a child, Mike knew he wanted to be a firefighter, and after serving in the Marine Corps, he made that childhood dream come true. In 1993 Mike started as a volunteer firefighter in Cypress, Texas. A few years later, he accepted his first paying job as a full-time firefighter/paramedic in The Woodlands, Texas. He then moved to the City of Arlington, swiftly moving up the ranks to Deputy Fire Chief. In 2019, he earned the title of Fire Chief in Paris, Texas, where he oversaw 3 fire stations and the Code Enforcement office. With Alachua County Fire Rescue, Mike was responsible for training, hiring, promotions, policy review, discipline, health and safety, ISO, Fire Prevention and Investigations. He graduated from San Jacinto College and received further education at Notre Dame. Mike is a licensed Florida Paramedic, Fire Instructor, and Fire Officer.

Chief Vogel describes himself as an educator who loves watching people engage and succeed. "I see it as my responsibility to mentor, lead and manage the members of an organization," he said. 

Mike is happily married to his love of 27 years, Amy Sue, and has 5 children ranging in age from 10 to 23. He enjoys the outdoors and spending time with his family. Mike states his greatest strengths are being a good listener and a people person, whereas his weakness is computers.