Names in the News: April 3, 2022

RONALD CASSFORD was sworn in as the new chief of the Randolph (MA) Fire Department (RFD) on March 21. He began his 28-year fire service career as a firefighter with the RFD in 1993, where he has since been promoted to lieutenant in 2002, captain in 2005, deputy chief in 2010, and chief of operations in 2016. Cassford is a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts. He takes over the position from previous RFD chief Richard Donovan, who retired in January after more than three decades in the fire service.

CHARLIE KING will take over as the new chief of the Anderson County (SC) Fire Department (ACFD) on April 4. He is a third-generation fire service member and arrives at the ACFD from Oconee County (SC) Emergency Services, where he had worked since 2011, serving most recently as its chief. King is also the outgoing executive committee president of the South Carolina Fire Fighter Association and is a mainstay at FDIC International, held each year in Indianapolis, Indiana.

PETER C. MARSAC took over as the new chief of the Maplewood (MO) Fire Department (MFD) on March 23. Marsac had been serving as the MFD’s interim chief since Terry Merrell retired in July 2021, when Marsac was serving as the department’s assistant chief. Prior to arriving in Maplewood as a firefighter/paramedic in 2000, he worked for 13 years with Abbott EMS in St. Louis as an emergency medical services paramedic and shift supervisor. Marsac has state certifications as a Fire Investigator, a Fire Instructor, a Paramedic, an Incident Safety Officer, Firefighter I and II, and Hazmat Technician.

SHAWN TOMPKINS was appointed as the new chief of the Minoa (NY) Fire Department (MFD). Tompkins began his fire service career at the age of 14 when he joined the MFD’s Explorer program in 1989. He then started training in the emergency medical services while in high school. Eventually, he would rise through the ranks to become the MFD’s assistant chief before moving to the Fayetteville (NY) Fire Department in the early 2000s. Tompkins then moved on to the DeWitt (NY) Fire District, where he served as deputy chief until his retirement from the department.

JOE TESTA will take over as the new chief of the Livermore-Pleasanton (CA) Fire Department (LPFD) on April 4. He will replace former LPFD chief Jeff Peters, who retired one year ago. Testa had been serving as the department’s interim chief during two six-month rotations before his ascension to the top spot. He has nearly 30 years of fire service experience, beginning his career in Pleasanton as an on-call firefighter and then as a firefighter/paramedic before joining LPFD in 1996, where he moved up through the ranks to become an engineer, a captain, and a battalion chief. He has served as the LPFD’s deputy chief since 2015.