Hoover Fire Chief Clay Bentley was presented Jefferson State’s 2025 Outstanding Alumnus Award during Jefferson State’s annual Honors Convocation on April 17.
Chief Bentley was raised in Chilton County and started as a volunteer firefighter in Thorsby at age 18. He attended the University of Montevallo, and while doing so, served as a volunteer firefighter with the Montevallo Fire Department. He graduated from Montevallo in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in business management. After graduation, he served five years as a full-time firefighter with the Birmingham Fire Department.
In 1994, he earned an associate’s degree in fire science at Jefferson State. In 1997, he joined the Hoover Fire Department where he quickly excelled and advanced. He acquired his paramedic license and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 2003. In 2006, he was promoted to Captain and served in that role until he was promoted to Battalion Chief with the Training Office. In 2017, Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato named him as Hoover’s Fire Chief.
Over the years, he has obtained numerous certifications and spoke at conferences across the country. He embraces the use of data and technology to continually improve efficiency in Hoover. He also participates in hands-on training with his personnel.
Chief Bentley has been instrumental in helping create the High School Fire Academy at the Hoover Riverchase Career Connection Center (RC3). He has led his department in maintaining an ISO Class 1 Certification, demonstrating exceptional department capabilities and the highest rating of fire protection. During his tenure, Hoover Fire has also achieved accreditation status through the Center for Public Safety Excellence.
He was recently selected as the 2025 “Fire Chief of the Year” by the Alabama Fire Chiefs Association from a pool of approximately 200 fire chiefs. His nomination letter for that honor read, “his knowledge and experience in fire service is extensive, but his greatest attributes are his character and his integrity.” The letter also stated, “The amount of time he spends checking on the wellbeing of his employees is immeasurable, as he often attends hospitals, funerals, weddings and other events that are important to his personnel.”
In total, he has served as a firefighter in various roles for 28 years. He is married to his wife Julie and has three children.
