Norris '97 M'11 became only fire chief in Massachusetts to hold a doctoral degree 

Christopher Norris ‘97, M’11 has built a firm foundation of education to best support his community. Norris began his career in Westhampton in 1994 as a volunteer firefighter and served over the next 25 years. He is currently the Easthampton Fire Chief, having begun that role in July 2020. Before his role in Easthampton, Norris spent 20 years in Northampton, starting as a firefighter in 2000 and working his way up to becoming the Senior Deputy Fire Chief. Norris is a two-time Westfield State Graduate, with a Bachelor’s in Movement Science and a Master of Public Administration, but that is not where his continued education stops. He also holds a Master of Science in Fire Science and Administration from Anna Maria College and a Doctor of Public Policy and Administration with a concentration in Emergency Management from Walden University, making him the only fire chief in Massachusetts to hold a doctoral degree. 

“Education has always been a significant focus during my career,” said Norris. “This degree was a professional and personal goal of mine for the past 10 years. The fire service has become extremely complex over the last decade, and it is important that future leaders in our profession understand the importance of continual education.”   

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