WILLIAM “BUCK” MANLEY was selected as the new chief of the Holmen (WI) Fire Department. Manley is the third person to fill the position in four years. He has more than 30 years of firefighting-related service. Manley assumes the position from former chief Paul Menches, who started at the department in July 2016. Under Menches’ leadership, the department created a strategic plan to increase staffing, hired new leadership, and purchased a new fire truck. The next phase will be to turn into a 24/7 fire department, potentially by January 2020.
JOSEPH W. GREGORY was appointed as the new chief of the Albany (NY) Fire Department (AFD). Gregory has been a member of the department since July 1988, working his way up from firefighter. He was promoted to deputy chief in October 2014. Gregory replaces outgoing Chief Warren Abriel, who announced his retirement after 46 years with the department. After graduating from Siena College, he worked for the city as a fire log dispatcher for the Fire Department of New York before joining the AFD. He was recognized as the 2017 American Legion Firefighter of the Year.
