Veteran Firefighters Promoted To Rank Of Captain

Tuesday, February 17th, 2026

Two longtime members of the Dalton Fire Department were promoted to the rank of captain on Tuesday. Donnie Blankenship and Justin Rishel each received the captain's badges at the monthly meeting of the Dalton Public Safety Commission. 

Captain Blankenship joined the department in 2002. He moved up through the ranks in the department's Suppression Division, reaching the rank of firefighter III in 2011 before moving into the Fire Prevention Division as an inspector in 2015. He became coordinator of that division in 2024 before earning promotion to the rank of lieutenant in January 2025. He has also been a certified fire investigator since March 2016 and oversees all of the department's fire investigations. 

Caption: Captain Donnie Blankenship (left) and Captain Justin Rishel (right) pose with Chief Matt Daniel during Tuesday's meeting of the Public Safety Commission 

Captain Rishel has been a member of the DFD since January 2003. He became a training instructor in 2019 and earned his promotion to the rank of lieutenant in 2024. Last spring, he became coordinator of the Training Division. 

"Congratulations, we say it a lot but it's always good to see promotions and it's always good to see people moving up in the agency," said PSC Chairman Truman Whitfield. "I've been fortunate to get to see it (up close) for a number of years how fortunate the people of Dalton are to have the Dalton Fire Department and the personnel we've got out there 24 hours a day." 

"I just want to thank you for your loyalty," said PSC Commissioner Terry Mathis. "When I see these starting dates of 2002, 2003... that's unheard of these days to have that kind of dedication. So I appreciate you guys sticking with us and being part of the family."