Names in the News: May 16, 2021

DANIEL E. FLYNN was appointed as the new chief fire marshal of the Fire Department of New York’s (FDNY’s) Bureau of Investigation. Flynn first joined the FDNY in 2005, working at Ladder Co. 114. In 2009, he was promoted to fire marshal. In 2014, he was promoted to lieutenant and worked in the 8th Division. In November 2016, Flynn was promoted to supervising fire marshal. In 2012, he received the Deputy Commissioner Christine R. Godek Medal for helping uncover a criminal conspiracy following a three-alarm fire on Staten Island, where 10 firefighters were seriously injured. 

TODD TUGGLE was named the new chief of the Santa Maria (CA) Fire Department (SMFD). Tuggle has been with the SMFD since February 3, 2020, serving as its deputy chief. He was named interim chief on December 19, 2020. Prior to working at the SMFD, Tuggle served 17 years with the Fresno (CA) Fire Department, where he rose to the position of battalion chief. He graduated from Cal Poly and earned his Master of Arts in Homeland Security from the Naval Postgraduate School.

MICHAEL WASHINGTON will take over as the new chief of the Cincinnati (OH) Fire Department (CFD) on July 24, when current chief Roy Winston officially retires. Washington is a 25-year CFD veteran who most recently led the fire prevention and community risk reduction division. He began his career with the CFD in 1991 as an emergency medical tech and worked his way up the ranks to lieutenant, captain, district chief, and then assistant fire chief of his current division. Washington is the 18th chief to serve the CFD since the department was created in 1853.

STEVE LEIGHTON was appointed as the new chief of the North Tahoe (CA) Fire Protection District (NTFPD). He replaces previous NTFPD chief Mike Schwartz, who retired after serving nine years in the top spot. Leighton is a 29-year fire service veteran and who had served as the NTFPD’s division chief of operations until his promotion to assistant chief in 2020. He was then promoted to acting chief in January 2021, his appointment to chief effective May 1. Leighton spent more than 20 years as the division chief of operations for the Reno (NV) Fire Department and will also serve as the chief of the Meeks Bay Fire Protection District.

JASON CATRAMBONE was announced as the new chief of Escambia County (FL) Fire Rescue (ECFR). He will begin in his new position on June 14. Catrambone is a 25-plus-year fire service veteran and currently serves as the chief of the Williston (ND) Fire Department. As ECFR’s chief, Catrambone’s duties will include supervising fire rescue staff; managing expenditures to the approved annual budget; and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations.