Mike Hatcher

When asked to describe himself in one word, Hatch without hesitation chooses the word “direct.” And he’s the first to admit that his quick-witted and honest responses, given with a touch of sarcastic humor, can simultaneously be enlightening and polarizing.

Hatch recently retired from two large metro departments in Georgia after thirty years in the fire service. Although retirement is nice, he’s now only able to be direct on a daily basis with his dog Woody…so he’s sure to rejoin the workforce in the very near future. He's really sure something more in line with his passions rather than a financial need is on his horizon.  

Over the years, while expanding his ability to influence the direction of the department at each promotional step, he became intrigued by what he saw around him: the courage of great leaders to do or say what was right, while lesser leaders did what was convenient.  Inspired by the great ones, Hatch began collaborating with a network of like-minded firefighters to provide venues for officer and character development within the fire service.

He is currently pursuing a master’s in organizational leadership at Waldorf University. And Shane, Pabel, and Bill would like everyone to know that Hatch's hair is the only coiffure in the group to have its own name: "Strands of Steel."