FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 6, 2026
Town of Beaufort Announces Matthew Pendergraph as New Fire Chief
Beaufort, North Carolina — The Town of Beaufort is pleased to announce the appointment of Matthew Pendergraph as the community’s next Fire Chief. Chief Pendergraph brings over 27 years of professional fire service experience and will officially assume leadership of the Beaufort Fire Department on May 1, 2026. Chief Pendergraph currently serves as Battalion Chief with the City of Goldsboro Fire Department, a department of approximately 100 personnel. In this role, he supervises 24 firefighters, oversees daily operations across five stations and six fire companies, and provides incident command for structure fires, technical rescue, hazardous materials, and EMS incidents. He also coordinates training, operational readiness, emergency management, and hurricane response operations within the department’s Emergency Operations Center. Throughout his career, Chief Pendergraph has earned a reputation for technical expertise, exceptional leadership, and a steadfast commitment to firefighter safety and professional development. His career progression includes service as a firefighter, fire engineer, and fire captain before becoming battalion chief, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of fire service operations from the ground up.
Chief Pendergraph holds numerous professional certifications through the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress and the North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal, including:
- Fire Officer III
- Fire Inspector Level III
- Live Fire Instructor
- NC Certified Fire Investigator
- NCSFA Advanced Firefighter
- Emergency Vehicle Driver/Operator Pumps/Trailer Towing
- Hazardous Materials Level I
- Technical Rescue – Trench & Ropes
- Arson Investigation (CFI)
- Additional specialized credentials in fire service instruction, emergency response, and technical rescue
Colleagues describe Chief Pendergraph as “technically sharp, an exceptional leader, and a chief everyone on shift wants to work for.” He has also contributed to departmental growth through apparatus procurement, acquisition of technical rescue equipment, development of data reporting tools, and involvement in policy and promotional processes. Outside of his professional life, Chief Pendergraph enjoys spending time with his family, which includes his wife Heather of 19 years and their daughter Michaela. He is passionate about saltwater fishing, golf, and enjoying the coastal lifestyle—making Beaufort and the Crystal Coast a natural home for him and his family. “We are thrilled to welcome Chief Pendergraph to the Town of Beaufort,” said Matt Zapp, Town Manager. “His experience, operational knowledge, and commitment to firefighter safety will serve our department and community exceptionally well. We look forward to the leadership and professionalism he will bring to Beaufort.”
Chief Pendergraph and his family are expected to relocate to the area this spring in preparation for his new role leading the Beaufort Fire Department.