蘑菇tv

Ronnie Hayes, a Columbus County native from the Bethel community and retired fire chief, is 蘑菇tv鈥檚 new Associate Dean of Public Safety. As the head of public safety, his main responsibilities are to oversee the short-term training classes in fire, EMS and law enforcement, expand the newly established curriculum programs in EMS and public safety administration and assist each division鈥檚 directors and coordinators.听

鈥淲ith Brian Nelson overseeing the Fire Academy, Bobby Worley directing the Basic Law Enforcement Training program, Stephen Hester coordinating EMS and Sandy Carland helping with defensive driving, I鈥檓 helping them get classes aligned and keeping them updated on trainings听and certifications as required by law.鈥�听

Hayes said he is 鈥渧enturing into new territory鈥� with the听new curriculum programs in EMS and public safety administration听at 蘑菇tv.听He explained that each student鈥檚 accumulated听training performed throughout听their years of service can count towards credit hours for an听associates听degree听that can be transferred to another institution鈥檚听bachelor鈥檚 degree program.听Hayes听said that听previous听training听in fire, EMS and law enforcement and detention officer听jobs that听go听towards a degree program drastically reduces the amount of time it takes to earn a degree.听

Hayes said the curriculum programs in Public Safety are听HyFlex听programs, so that students can complete coursework听in听their own time. Class lectures are recorded and live broadcasted, so students can work remotely听and during times convenient for them.听Lab coursework is completed on campus.听Hayes is looking forward to promoting the curriculum program because it is something he can relate to in earning his bachelor鈥檚 degree as an older adult.听听听听

鈥淚t鈥檚 important for these younger folks听to get their associates degree,听where they听can climb the ladder within their organization,鈥� Hayes said. 鈥淭his helps them better provide for their family听in having that education.鈥�听

Since starting听in January, Hayes said his favorite part of the job so far is the people he works with. Already seeing familiar faces听on his team from throughout his career and working at 蘑菇tv part-time, Hayes听said听鈥渆verybody is on the same page.鈥澨鼿e is looking forward to the continued growth of public safety and helping fill the workforce gaps in听the听firefighter听and paramedic听fields.听听

Hayes’听first听interest in public safety stemmed听from the adrenaline rush of saving someone from a burning house.听He described the public safety and first responder career field as a 鈥測ou either听love it or hate it鈥澨齦ifestyle.听

鈥淭here鈥檚 something about it, and even at my age, I still enjoy it,鈥� Hayes said. 鈥淏ut eventually, what got me away from working at a golf course and going back to school to become a medic was the pay. At first, I did this for听the adrenaline, and now I do it because I want to make a difference.鈥�听

Realizing his work on a fire truck or on the back of听an听ambulance听is听lifesaving;听Hayes听knew his calling was to help people.听He said that 鈥渨hen they call you on their worst day,鈥� he wants to 鈥渉elp make it a little better鈥� for them.听Retired from active service, Hayes still works as a volunteer in fire and rescue for听Columbus听County. He said his calling now is to train听up a new class of public safety professionals who will affect thousands more people.听听

Hayes earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree from Western Carolina University in emergency and disaster management in 2022, and he is nine semester hours away from earning his master鈥檚 degree in executive leadership from Columbia Southern University.听听

Hayes started his public safety career in 1989 as a volunteer firefighter serving in Brunswick County. He earned his paramedic certification听from Brunswick Community College听and became one of the first cohorts of paramedics to work in Brunswick County, earning full-time status in 1994.听By 1996, Hayes was teaching paramedic classes at BCC听until 2003,听and听he continued to teach part-time at听蘑菇tv.听听

From 2003 to 2006, Hayes served as Columbus County鈥檚 Emergency Services Director.听In 2007, he was hired by the Leland听Fire/Rescue听as the captain of its EMS department. Within a year, Hayes was promoted to assistant chief听and remained in that role until 2014, when he was听promoted to deputy chief of EMS. In 2022, Hayes became the听fire chief and remained there until retirement in December 2025.听听

鈥淚鈥檝e pretty much taught fire and EMS my whole career,鈥� Hayes said. 鈥淚鈥檓听helping听prepare听the next generation, and I figured this would be a good place to do it.听This is where I grew up, and Columbus County will always be home.鈥�听

Outside of work, Hayes likes to watch sports听on听TV, hunt,听fish, and work on his family’s听farm.听During the听summer, he spends many hours听mowing听yards. He and his wife, Traci Hayes, have two adult sons, Jackson and Josh, and five grandchildren.听听

Interested in a career in听Public听Safety?听Contact Student Services at 910-788-6279 or visit A-building on campus to connect with a student advisor.听