Chief Kent Taylor's fire service career began at the Asbury Park Fire Dept. in Asbury Park, New Jersey where he worked as a Firefighter/EMT for two years. He was hired by the Panama City Fire Department on July 12, 2002 and has promoted through the ranks of Fire Engineer, Fire Lieutenant, Fire Captain, Battalion Chief, and Division Chief. He currently serves as the Assistant Fire Chief of Operations. He achieved his Associate's Degree in Fire Science at Gulf Coast State College. Chief Taylor went on to attend Columbia Southern University where he achieved a Bachelor's Degree in Fire Science and a Master's Degree in Public Administration with a Minor in Emergency Services Management. He is a State of Florida certified Pump Operator, Live Fire Training Instructor, Incident Command Systems, Fire and Life Safety Inspector I & II, Fire Investigator I, Fire Officer I & II, Instructor III, Fire & Life Safety Public Educator, and Criminal Justice Informations Services.
Chief Taylor has been married for 29 years and has three children and three grandchildren.