Brian Whitney named Acton fire chief
“This is an exceptional team of dedicated professionals, and I am committed to investing in their growth and development.”
Acton has a new fire chief.
After less than a month as the department’s interim head, Assistant Chief Brian Whitney is set to take the reins as permanent chief following Thursday’s announcement by Town Manager Kerry Lafleur.
Lafleur hailed Whitney’s “proven leadership” and “extensive experience” and said his “dedication to the department and our community has been evident throughout his career.”
Whitney said he’s “honored and grateful for the opportunity.”
He promised to focus on boosting operational readiness “and fostering an environment where every member has the resources and training they need to succeed.”
“This is an exceptional team of dedicated professionals, and I am committed to investing in their growth and development,” he said.
Town officials this week also announced a new building commissioner and said they’re still working to find a new chief information officer.
Decades of experience
Whitney came to Acton as a firefighter in 1991 and rose to the rank of assistant fire chief in 2023. He became interim chief last month after his predecessor, Thomas Judge, retired.
Whitney will officially become chief on September 7.
Beyond his CFD duties, Whitney has spent more than 30 years training firefighters at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. He earned a Massachusetts Fire Chief accreditation and certification through the Chief Fire Officer Management Training program.
Locally, Lafleur noted Whitney’s role in securing nearly $1 million in federal grant funding to upgrade town ambulances to advanced life support status.
Lafleur said she’s confident Whitney’s “commitment to developing our staff and his clear vision for the department’s future will ensure that the Acton Fire Department remains a leader in public safety.”
“Together, we will continue to build on our legacy of outstanding service and innovation for the residents of Acton,” Whitney said.
Facilities needs
Although Acton has added only about 1,400 residents over Whitney’s career, according to census data, emergency calls have spiked.
As firefighters handle more calls, officials are also considering what to do with the town’s inadequate public safety and public works facilities.
Fire officials have had to convert closets into office space, and the ceilings in both of Acton’s fire stations are too short to fit certain equipment, forcing the department to buy custom ambulances and modify some fire trucks.
Whitney was part of those discussions as assistant chief, and Judge predicted the work will continue.
“We’re working with what we’ve got,” Judge told The Acton Bridge, “but we’ve outgrown these facilities.”
Other vacancies
Judge’s retirement was the latest in a line of exits by high-level town employees this summer.
With Whitney’s appointment, staff have now filled most of the vacancies, including promoting Kevin Pickering to succeed Paul Creedon as building commissioner this week. Creedon left for a role in Weston.
The chief information officer job is still vacant after Amalia McCaffrey left for family reasons in June, according to town Communications Manager Donna McIntosh.
Acton Municipal Light Plant Director Jason Bulger is covering McCaffrey’s old job — alongside his CMLP duties — as interim CIO.
McIntosh told The Bridge that the CIO search is ongoing and said via email, “Hopefully, there will be an announcement on this position soon.”
