MA Fire Department Appoints Acting Chief

HUDSON, MA—Veteran Hudson fire Lt. Bryan Johannes will lead the department as acting chief while the town searches for a permanent boss.

Johannes – a more than 30-year member of the department – was appointed acting chief by selectmen on Monday. He joined the department in 1988 as a call firefighter and was hired as a full-time firefighter in November 2001.

"I'm humbled by the appointment," said Johannes, a Navy veteran, on Friday.

The acting chief lauded his fellow firefighters and is excited about his new role.

"I hope to move the Fire Department forward in a positive direction," said Johannes, who will also serve as the town's emergency management director.

Executive Assistant Thomas Moses praised Johannes' leadership and experience.

"He's got a lot of great qualities," said Moses.

Johannes replaces interim Fire Chief Richard Harris, who took the position in early January after Fire Chief Stephen Geldart retired. Harris, who retired in 2011 after a 33-year career working his way up the ranks of the North Reading Fire Department, collects a pension and could only work 960 hours as Hudson's interim chief, said Moses. Harris' last day was last week.

"We're happy he was able to do this," said Moses.

Hudson officials conducted a search for a permanent chief last summer (Geldart had announced his intention to retire at that point), but Moses decided none of the 19 candidates – including four Hudson firefighters – who applied for the position distinguished themselves for the role, which led to the department hiring Harris as interim chief.

The town will conduct an assessment center next month that puts candidates through a battery of exercises covering all aspects of the profession such as technical knowledge, personnel administration, leadership and grant writing. A candidate for the permanent chief position will then be recommended to town officials, said Moses.

The assessment center will include internal and external candidates, said Moses. Johannes confirmed he is applying for the permanent job.

Moses expects to select a new fire chief within six to eight weeks.

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