Fire Department Promotions Headline PSC Meeting

Tuesday, January 23rd, 2024

Four Dalton firefighters received promotions at Tuesday morning's meeting of the Public Safety Commission. The commission also elected its officers for the year during the meeting, which was the commission's first of 2024. 

Caption: Chief Matt Daniel (left) stands with newly promoted firefighters (from L to R) Lt. Chad Hall, Lt. Matt Asbell, Lt. Justin Rishel, and Prevention Division Coordinator Donnie Blankenship Tuesday morning at City Hall

Donnie Blankenship was promoted to coordinator of the Prevention Division. Blankenship succeeds Chief Matt Daniel in the role, which was left vacant by Daniel's promotion last fall. Blankenship has served the fire department for more than 21 years, joining in November 2002. He has been assigned to the Prevention Division of the DFD since 2015 as an Inspector. He also serves as a fire investigator. 

Justin Rishel was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in the department's Training Division. He has been a part of that division since the summer of 2019, first serving as a fire instructor. He has been a Dalton firefighter since January 2003. Chief Daniel noted that Rishel has performed well in his role as a trainer and also as the coordinator of the DFD's hazardous materials program. 

Matt Asbell was also promoted to the rank of lieutenant, replacing the recently retired Lt. Shane Browder. Lt. Asbell also joined the department in January 2003, and since become an informal leader on his shift as he rose through the ranks. He was promoted to the rank of Firefighter 3 in the summer of 2017 and over the past six years he has had many opportunities to serve as the officer in charge of his company and has performed well as a trusted and competent leader, according to Chief Daniel.  

Chad Hall also received a promotion to lieutenant, replacing retired Lt. Kirk Williams. Hall previously was promoted to the rank of Firefighter 3 in September 2012, becoming a respected leader on his shift. Before joining the DFD in September 2003, Hall was a non-commissioned officer in the United States Marine Corps. Hall serves as an advanced EMT and is also a graduate of the prestigious Georgia FLAMES course in addition to serving on the DFD's Special Operations Team. 

Each firefighter's promotion was confirmed by a unanimous vote of the Public Safety Commission. 

Also at Tuesday morning's meeting, Truman Whitfield was re-elected as the commission's chairman. Commissioner Alex Brown was elected as the commission's secretary.