Monday, November 3, 2008 5:18 AM EST
By Mark Zaretsky, Register Staff
EAST HAVEN — Charles Licata took the oath of office as the new assistant fire chief last week, moving up from deputy chief and training officer into the No. 2 position.
Licata’s career as a firefighter began as an 18-year-old volunteer straight out of high school in 1980. He has been a career firefighter for 22 years, since 1986. He fills a job that has been vacant since Assistant Chief Paul Cahill retired this summer.
“This appointment to the assistant chief’s position is a very proud moment for me and I’ll do everything I can for the town,” Licata, 46, told a fire headquarters full of people.
Those in attendance included his wife, Dawn, one of his two sons, Tyler, Chief Doug Jackson, former Fire Chief Wayne Sandford — now deputy commissioner of the state Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security — and Fire Marshal Anthony Moscato, who sang “God Bless America.”
Fire chiefs and assistant chiefs from a number of neighboring communities also attended.
Licata said his other son, Christopher, was unable to attend because he had to go to football practice.
“I am extremely thrilled to have Chuck working with me as assistant chief,” said Jackson. “Chuck and I have become really close over the past months” and Licata “is a good, calming force” in the department, he said.
“This is a wonderfully happy occasion,” said Mayor April Capone Almon. “We are always so proud of all of our town employees, and the Fire Department has a special place in our hearts because when we call for help, they show up.”
Fire Commission Chairman Joseph Piccirillo, who as Licata’s neighbor as Licata was growing up first suggested that he consider getting involved with the Fire Department, said that “on behalf of the board, I am honored to promote Chuck to assistant chief ... He’ll do a great job!”
Cahill offered congratulations not just to Licata but to his entire family, saying that a family’s support is an important part of such a demanding job.
“I’m very happy for Chuck,” Cahill said. “I’ve watched him grow as a training officer. I think it’s very important to see the training officer move up in the ranks. To me, the training officer is the spark” of the department.
Mark Zaretsky can be reached at mzaretsky@nhregister.com or 789-5722.