TJ Axson is an operations battalion chief with the City of Charleston, SC. Originally from Summerville, SC, he joined the Charleston Fire Department in 2006 and was promoted through each rank. The majority of his career was spent at Charleston’s Central Station as an engineer and captain where they operated as the Marine Division for the Special Operations Division, operating two marine vessels for maritime incidents. Axson earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Anderson University and is currently working on a Master's in Public Administration. He is currently working on obtaining his Certified Fire Officer through CPSE, and upon completing the master’s degree will apply for the Executive Fire Officer program through the National Fire Academy.
Axson was a firefighter on one of the first arriving units, Engine 11, at the Charleston Sofa Super Store fire. At the age of 19, this type of event was complex and overwhelming. He had never experienced a commercial fire this large and was not prepared for the emotional impact it would bring. During that event, Axson entered the structure with his officer to investigate and extinguish the fire but later exited due to the conditions. Since the tragic fire that day, he has witnessed and lived with the reality and the impact this type of event can have on personnel and the department. As an officer, he learned the importance of learning from mistakes and advocating for leadership, education, and mentoring.