Deputy Fire Chief Brad Best is officially on deck to lead the Gastonia Fire Department, with the city setting May 1, 2026, as the day he takes over when longtime Chief Phil Welch retires. Best has been a fixture in the department for decades and will step into the top job as part of a planned leadership transition. Welch, who has headed the department since March 2009, announced his retirement in December.
The city has already named Best as Welch’s successor and confirmed the May 1, 2026 handoff date, according to Queen City News. Keeping the promotion in-house signals the city is sticking with familiar leadership as it prepares for the change sparked by Welch’s December announcement.
Who Is Brad Best?
Best currently serves as deputy fire chief and has climbed through the operational ranks, from firefighter to captain, then battalion chief and assistant chief, according to the City of Gastonia staff listing. That gradual rise means he already knows the department’s crews, apparatus and daily rhythms across Gastonia’s stations.
Experience and Credentials
Queen City News reports that Best began his fire service career as a volunteer with the South Gastonia Fire Department, later worked as a firefighter with the Hickory Fire Department, and eventually returned to Gastonia, where he moved into senior operational roles. The outlet also notes that he holds multiple public safety degrees, including a master’s in fire and executive leadership from Waldorf University and a bachelor’s in fire-safety engineering technology from UNC Charlotte, and that he completed the Executive Fire Officer program at the National Fire Academy.
Welch's Tenure And The Transition
Welch has led the Gastonia Fire Department since March 2009 and announced in December that he will retire effective May 1, 2026, the Gaston Gazette reported. In a memo quoted by the paper, Welch said he is “immensely proud of the work we have done and the accomplishments we have made together.” City officials told the outlet they plan to share more details about Welch’s career and the department’s transition as the retirement date draws closer.
What The Department Looks Like
The Gastonia Fire Department has roughly 144 full-time personnel spread across eight stations and covers about 52–53 square miles, according to the department’s official information. When he takes over, Best will be responsible for emergency response, personnel and training, and for steering the department’s capital priorities as the city moves into the spring budget season.
The appointment keeps leadership in-house and signals continuity for a department that handles both fire response and rising medical-call demand. Officials say the handoff will be formalized on May 1 and that the city plans to release more information on the transition in the weeks ahead.
