Charlie Breitrose
Bob Quinn was named the new Watertown Fire Chief by the Town Manager on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018.
{UPDATED Sept. 6 at 9:05 a.m.: The location fo the swearing in has been changed, see below}
Watertown’s next fire chief will be a familiar face — Bob Quinn — a 31 year veteran of the department who has served as provisional chief for the past 10 months.
Town Manager Michael Driscoll announced that Quinn would be the new Fire Chief on Wednesday. He succeeds Mario Orangio, who retired in the summer of 2017 and died of cancer in November 2017.
Quinn will be sworn in during ceremony at the Watertown Free Public Library on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. He said he was excited to be named chief.
“I’m very excited to take on this responsibility for the Fire Department,” Quinn said. “I am anxious to move forward with what we have been doing.”
Before serving as provisional chief, Quinn was a deputy fire chief for nearly 15 years.
The Town held an Assessment Center to select the new Fire Chief. The four deputy fire chiefs, including Quinn, submitted applications in early June and on June 13 two deputy chiefs – Quinn and Tom McManus – took part in the Assessment Center, Driscoll said in the announcement. Both candidates went through two rounds of interviews.
“As a result …. and my belief that he has the qualities necessary for the position, I have appointed Deputy Chief Robert Quinn as Chief of the Watertown Fire Department effective Sept. 6, 2018,” Driscoll wrote in his announcement. “I believe the appointment of Deputy Chief Quinn is in the best interest of the Town of Watertown and the Watertown Fire Department.”
During his time on the WFD, Quinn also served as Staff Service Officer for five years, and the EMS Coordinator for 2.5 years. He has Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Medical Technology and an Associates degree in Fire Science.