The Hamden Board of Fire Commissioners Monday evening promoted Capt. Jason Blyth to the rank of battalion chief. Batt. Chief Blythe will assume command of Platoon 3, the position previous held by Batt. Chief Rich Otlowski, who retired at the end of last month.
In remarks before the group assembled in the town hall rotunda, Chief Jeffrey Naples noted that "[o]ur battalion chiefs hold new administrative roles, knowing they can help shape the department moving forward. The battalion chiefs are the middle management to link the line and administration, which is vital for our chain of command and transparency."
B/C Blyth earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial and Management Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. A 23-year department veteran, he began his fire service career in 1992 as a volunteer in Branford. Hired by Hamden in 1999, he was promoted to lieutenant in 2007 and captain in 2012. As house captain of Stations 3 and 9, he was responsible for overseeing budgets, maintenance, and apparatus.
Chief Naples praised Blyth's record, "He has trained, mentored and guided many of our firefighters who are now leaders in our department. Jason has had the experience of taking command of multiple incidents, ensuring accountability and efficiency. I look forward to having him lead our department in his new role while we work side by side. Congratulations!"
The members of the Hamden Fire Retirees Association echo Chief Naples' sentiments and wish Batt. Chief Blyth all the best in his new role.
