SUBASE welcomes three new Battalion Chiefs

By:MC2(AW) Peter D. Blair 10/02/2008

GROTON, Conn. - Recently, the Naval Submarine Base New London Fire Department (SBFD) promoted three new Battalion Chiefs: Robert Bennett, James Borcuk, and Robert Kelly. With a combined 104 years experience as volunteer and paid firefighters, these new chiefs are a welcome addition to the department.

Bennett is a 24-year veteran of the Air National Guard (ANG), retiring as a Fire Chief for the ANG.

"My favorite part of the job is the camaraderie of the firefighters, we're a tight knit group" said Bennett. His father was a volunteer firefighter in Rhode Island where he grew up. Bennett's first assignment as a firefighter was in West Greenwich, R.I.

Borcuk grew up in Providence, R.I., where his father was a Lieutenant with the Providence Fire Department.

"I grew up in fire stations" said Borcuk, who served six years in the National Guard as a Crash and Rescue responder. "Firefighters are a second family to most of us." Borcuk's first assignment after becoming a federal fire fighter was at the Navy Sound Lab in New London, Conn.

Kelly is a life-long resident of Connecticut growing up in East Windsor, and Enfield. Kelly's brother was also a firefighter.

"I followed in his footsteps," said Kelly. "The best part of the job is getting to help people."

Kelly's first assignment as a federal firefighter was also at the Navy Sound Lab in New London.

SBFD Fire Chief Tom Clapsadle is pleased to have such experienced professionals joining the department's leadership team.

"It's great to see these guys, with so much knowledge between them promoted to chief firefighters," said Clapsadle.

The SBFD answers emergency calls on and off the base with two fire stations manned by 45 firefighters, operating in work shifts covering 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Their motto is "Protecting those who defend America."