December 6, 2024 — The Board of Directors of The North Carolina State Firefighters’ Association is pleased to announce the appointment of Chief Barry Overman as the organization’s new Executive Director, effective January 21, 2025. Chief Overman brings a wealth of experience from years in various capacities in the fire service and a proven track record of leadership, integrity, and a lifelong commitment to the fire service in North Carolina. Chief Overman will serve in an overlapping capacity with the current Executive Director, Tim Bradley, for a period of time to ensure a smooth transition.
As Executive Director, Barry will lead the NCSFA in its mission to serve the 51,000+ members and respond to its member’s needs by using effective means of communication, providing defined financial benefits and developing needed programs. He will work closely with the Board of Directors, staff, and strategic partners to further strengthen the organization’s impact on the benefits provided the members of the North Carolina State Firefighters’ Association.
“We are excited to welcome Chief Overman to our team,” said Chief Curt Deaton, Board President of the North Carolina State Firefighters’ Association. “With his extensive background in the fire service, we are confident that Barry will be an instrumental force in advancing our mission and achieving our goals. His vision, passion, and leadership will be invaluable as we continue to serve the needs of the North Carolina firefighters.”
“As I reflect on the extraordinary years with the NCSFA, I’m filled with gratitude for my time here and for all the accomplishments we’ve made for the firefighters in this state. It has been an honor to serve this organization, and I’m confident that Barry will continue to build on this foundation with passion, vision, and the leadership needed to guide us into the future. As a past president of this organization and an experienced first responder, he brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to our mission, and I am excited for what lies ahead under his leadership,” said Tim Bradley, Executive Director of the North Carolina State Firefighters’ Association.
Chief Overman has previously served as Deputy Fire Chief at Elizabeth City Fire Department and currently serves as Fire Chief at Weeksville Volunteer Fire Department. He has served as the chair of the school board in Elizabeth City and as a County Commissioner in Pasquotank County. Most recently, Chief Overman served as the Division Chief of the Community Risk Reduction Division at the NC Office of State Fire Marshal.
“I am both honored and excited to be named the new Executive Director of the North Carolina State Firefighters’ Association. Having been involved with the NCSFA for many years—including serving on the Board of Directors for seven years, and as Board President in 2017—this organization holds a special place in my heart. I look forward to working alongside this talented and dedicated team to continue supporting the firefighters of North Carolina and advancing the mission of this exceptional organization,” said Barry Overman, the newly appointed Executive Director of the North Carolina State Firefighters’ Association.
Chief Overman’s bio follows.
For more information on the North Carolina State Firefighters’ Association, visit https://ncsfa.com.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Barry A Overman Bio
Barry began his time in the fire service as a member of the Weeksville Volunteer Fire Department in 1987 where he continues to serve as Fire Chief today. He began working fulltime for the Elizabeth City Fire Department in 1988, working through the ranks and retiring as Deputy Chief in 2019.
He obtained many fire, EMS, and law enforcement certifications throughout his career, and studied Fire Administration at Columbia Southern University. Notably, he took a leave of absence from his Fire Marshal’s position in 1997 to pursue Basic Law Enforcement Certification at the College of the Albemarle in order to enhance the fire investigations division within the fire department. His efforts allowed other members of the Fire Marshal’s Office to become BLET Certified. He remains a reserve officer with the Elizabeth City Police Department and the Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office.
A highlight of his career was obtaining two accelerant detection K9’s through the State Farm Arson K-9 program over a 15 year period. K-9 “Ransom” retired with Overman and remains part of the family.
Barry served on the Eastern Carolina Firefighters Association board of directors for many years, and served as President 2014-2015. In 2012, he was sworn in as a board member of the North Carolina State Firefighters’ Association, and served as President for the year 2017.
He was elected to serve on the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank School’s Board of Education in 2010 for a 4-year term and was re-elected to a second term in 2014. He served as Board Chair for four years. He was elected to the Pasquotank County Board of Commissioners in 2018 to a four-year term, and was re-elected to an additional 4-year term in 2022 and has served as the Vice-Chairman for the past two years.
After a brief time of retirement from the fire department, Barry returned to work at the NC Office of State Fire Marshal as Division Chief of the Community Risk Reduction Division. In 2022, he returned to his passion of fire investigations and moved to the Fire Investigation Unit where he is currently an investigator for the Northeast Region.
Barry enjoys singing and serves at his local church. He was the co-founder of the singing group “Step of Faith” in 1996 that traveled and sang at local churches for many years, and continues to travel and sing with his family to date.
He considers being a dad his single greatest accomplishment. He was blessed in 1997 to meet and marry his wife Jeanette, and together they raised three children; Seth, Brooke, and Joel. His oldest son Seth and wife Ellie made him a grandfather in August of this year with the birth of their first grandbaby, Blair Anderson Overman.
Barry has and continues to serve on numerous boards and committees in his local community as well as at the state level, and enjoys the life-long friendships that it has afforded him.
