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| City Names Simkins Interim Fire Chief Following Cratty's Retirement |
City Manager Dane Bragg has named Battalion Chief Tom Simkins as interim Fire Chief. He will assume those duties on Monday, August 31, 2009 when current fire chief, John Cratty retires. As interim Fire Chief, it will be recommended to the Knox County board that Simkins also serve as interim Galesburg/Knox County Emergency Management Coordinator.
Simkins stated, "I am proud and honored to have the opportunity to provide leadership during the interim phase and will focus this period on maintaining the high standard of service that the citizens of Galesburg have come to expect."
Simkins began his career at the Galesburg Fire Department in 1985 as a firefighter. He was promoted in 1995 to Captain and spent much of the next 10 years in the training division. In 2005 Simkins was promoted to his current rank as Battalion Chief in charge of operations.
He is a 2007 graduate of the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland. In addition, Tom earned his Bachelor of Arts in Zoology from Southern Illinois University in 1981 and an Associate in Applied Science in the Fire Science Program at Carl Sandburg College in 1988.
BC Simkins helps to ensure future firefighters by instructing at University of Illinois Fire Service Institute, and in the Fire Science programs at Illinois Central College and Carl Sandburg College.
The city will conduct a thorough recruitment of candidates for the fire chief position in the near future. "I am confident that Tom has the skills to assume the interim chief position and I look forward to working with him and all the fire department personnel during our search for a new fire chief," said Bragg.
Tom and wife, Marcy, have two children, John and Jane.
(From a City of Galesburg News Release) |
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| 08 28 09 by Newsroom |
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