Junction City Manager Allen Dinkel has selected Jason Lankas to succeed Terry Johnson as Fire Chief. Upon Johnson's departure for a Fire Chief position in South Sioux City, Neb. Lankas had been named the Interim Chief. Dinkel stated, "In the past two months Chief Lankas has shown he has the ability and drive to lead the Fire Department. I am glad he has accepted moving into this role."
Lankas is a graduate of Kansas State University. He began working for the Fire Department in January of 2005. Before becoming Operations Chief in 2020 he oversaw Special Operations and is currently the lead for the JCFD Kansas Task Force 1 & 2, and the joint Geary County / JCFD Dive Team. He is also a fire investigator with the Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office.