The Florida Fire Chiefs' Association (FFCA) awarded Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Chief Jason Dougherty its 2026 Career Fire Chief of the Year honor during the organization's Executive Development Conference in Punta Gorda. The association formally recognized Dougherty at the closing Installation Dinner, according to the FFCA's announcement.

The award goes annually to a chief officer who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and service to the fire service and their community, and who is respected by peers statewide, the association said.

Hillsborough County's official newsroom confirmed the honor on July 17, describing it as recognition of Dougherty's dedication to the fire service.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue is one of the largest fire agencies in Florida, operating 47 fire stations across eight battalions with 1,200 sworn firefighters, according to county records. The department's coverage area includes Lutz and Odessa.

Since becoming chief in December 2023, Dougherty has added rescue units and ambulance staff during peak hours to address rising call volumes and improve response times, according to the county's website. In a 2024 county profile, he described his team-first philosophy: "We are ordinary people doing extraordinary things every day for Hillsborough County residents."

Two HCFR chiefs honored in three years

Dougherty's predecessor, former Fire Chief Dennis Jones, won the same award in 2023. That makes two successive HCFR chiefs recognized as the state's top career fire chief within a three-year span.

Dougherty's path

Dougherty, a Tampa Bay native with more than 25 years in the fire service, became HCFR's seventh fire chief on Friday, December 22, 2023. He started his career in 1999 in Thomasville, Georgia, then joined Tampa Fire Rescue, where he rose to training chief. He also served as a reserve officer and SWAT medic with the Tampa Police Department.

He joined Hillsborough County Fire Rescue in 2016 and held both the Deputy Chief of Operations and Deputy Chief of Administration roles before his appointment. As administration deputy, he managed the department's $260 million budget.

Dougherty holds a bachelor's degree in health science education from the University of Florida and a master's in organizational leadership from Waldorf University.

The FFCA also named Fire Chief Jason Timbert of St. George Island Volunteer Fire Department as the 2026 Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year at the same ceremony.