RANDOLPH — Randolph Town Manager Brian Howard announces that Chief Richard Donovan will retire at the beginning of January after more than three decades in the fire service.
Chief Donovan will officially retire from the Randolph Fire Department on Jan. 7, 2022 after serving as Randolph’s fire chief and emergency management director for the past eight years.
“Throughout his career in fire services, Chief Donovan has worked tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of the Randolph community while continuously finding innovative ways to improve upon our fire department to ensure it operates at its fullest potential,” Town Manager Howard said. “It has been a privilege to work alongside Chief Donovan and I wish him all the best during his well-deserved retirement.”
Chief Donovan has had an extensive career in fire service having joined the Randolph Fire Department in November 1988. He was promoted to lieutenant in January 1999, followed by captain in October 2002 and deputy chief in September 2009.
He was appointed as the department’s first-ever chief of operations in June 2013 before being named chief on Jan. 8, 2014. Chief Donovan is Randolph’s eighth fire chief.
During his time as chief, Chief Donovan served as the Town of Randolph’s Emergency Management Director and oversaw operations during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. He also served as the chairman of the Local Emergency Planning Committee.
Chief Donovan is credited with the following achievements during his tenure with the Randolph Fire Department:
- Overseeing the construction of the new North Randolph Fire Station
- Replacing the entire fleet of frontline response vehicles over the last eight years with the support of the Town Council, Town Manager and Randolph residents
- Enhancing public outreach to include the Senior SAFE Program which is designed to assess possible hazards seniors may face while living in their home
- Supervising and assisting in the development of the Pathways Program at Randolph High School, which is a comprehensive public safety course that trains students in real life public safety scenarios and provides knowledge and insights relevant for public safety careers
- Developing and implementing the department’s first certified Honor Guard
Chief Donovan was appointed to serve on the Massachusetts Fire Training Council representing full-time fire chiefs of Massachusetts. He is also a state-certified fire investigator.
Chief Donovan is a graduate of the Chief Fire Officer Training, a program of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy and the University of Massachusetts Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management, as well as a graduate of Suffolk University’s Masters Program in Local Leadership for Public Safety.
He serves as a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Norfolk County Fire Chiefs Association, Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts and Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association.
“It’s been a pleasure and honor to serve alongside the members of the Randolph Fire Department, past and present. The challenges over the past couple of years with the onset of COVID-19 have been many, however the men and women of the Randolph Fire Department persevered and overcame the unknowns, continuing to serve the community without disruption or hesitation,” Chief Donovan said. “I am confident that upon my retirement the department will continue to grow and serve the community with distinction.”
The Randolph Fire Department is currently in the process of selecting a new chief.
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