Names in the News: April 30, 2023

ANTHONY C. MARRONE was officially sworn in as chief of the Los Angeles County (CA) Fire Department (LACFD) on April 24 after serving as interim chief since July 2022. Marrone is a 37-year LACFD veteran, also serving stints as the department’s deputy chief and acting chief deputy over business operations. He also led and managed the Leadership and Professional Standards Bureau, Special Services Bureau, Emergency Medical Services Bureau, East Regional Operations Bureau, and Central Regional Operations Bureau.

DAVID WOODEN retired on April 28 as deputy chief of the Jackson (MI) Fire Department (JFD) after a 47-year fire service career, the past 38 with the JFD. Wooden’s career began in 1976 as a 17-year-old volunteer for his hometown Litchfield (MI) Fire Department. After graduating high school, he started his first full-time job as a firefighter with the Albion (MI) Fire Department (AFD). After the AFD merged into the Albion Department of Public Safety in 1982, Wooden joined the JFD in 1985. He then climbed the JFD ranks, from firefighter to engine driver to command officer, becoming a captain in 1996.

TROY GUDIE will retire as chief of the Onalaska (WI) Fire Department (OFD) next month after a 34-year fire service career. Gudie started his career as a volunteer firefighter in 1989. Four years later, in 1993, he was hired as the first full-time firefighter for the city of Onalaska. For 17 years, he served as the OFD’s assistant chief, and was promoted to chief in 2020. Gudie also worked with Western Technical College to establish a Fire and Emergency Medical Service Academy for high school seniors, where students spend two semesters getting certified as a firefighter and emergency medical responder.

BRAD BROWN was announced as the new chief of the Grand Rapids (MI) Fire Department (GRFD) on April 10 and will be sworn in on May 1. Brown currently serves as the GRFD’s deputy chief of support services. Brown has been with the GRFD for 20 years. Prior to that, he worked for the Greensboro (NC) Fire Department. Over the years, he’s been a firefighter, acting equipment operator, acting officer, lieutenant-planning, captain-planning, assistant chief-administration and filled in as acting chief for GRFD. He will replace outgoing chief John Lehman, who is retiring May 1 after a 38-year firefighting career, the past seven years as chief.

PAUL DOW will be sworn in as the new chief of the McKinney (TX) Fire Department (MFD) on May 2. Dow is a 27-plus-year fire service veteran and had been acting as the MFD’s interim chief. He joined the MFD in 2022 as assistant chief after consulting the city to develop a Fire Officer Training Program. Before joining the MFD, Dow was chief of the Albuquerque (NM) Fire Department from 2018 to 2021. In addition, he also worked as an instructor at Collin College and Central New Mexico Community College. Dow is a designated chief fire officer from the Center for Public Safety Excellence.