City of Albemarle City Manager Todd Clark announces the promotion of Kenneth C. “Kenny” Kendall Jr. to chief of the the city’s fire department. Kendall joined the Albemarle Fire Department in December 1994 and rose through the ranks, becoming a captain in 2005. In 2011, Kendall was promoted to battalion chief. In 2022, he was named assistant fire chief, a role that provided him with opportunities to work in administrative areas such as budget, payroll and personnel management. Kendall was instrumental in founding the City of Albemarle Firefighter Cadet Academy. The academy is an 18-week course featuring classroom and hands-on field instruction led by members of the City of Albemarle Fire Department and skill specialist instructors. Upon completion, cadets earn their North Carolina State Firefighters Certification and are sworn into the fire service.