Willie J. Patrick Jr., a 26-year veteran of the Wilmington (Del.) Fire Department, will become the city’s fire chief in January. He is currently a deputy chief and also serves as Wilmington’s fire marshal. Patrick will succeed Chief James M. Ford Jr., who is retiring at the end of the year,

“Chief Ford made this an awesome fire department in terms of recruitment, training and equipment,” Patrick said at a press conference where his selection as as Wilmington’s next chief was announced. “Now I’d like to take the department to the next level.”

Patrick became a firefighter in 1980, a lieutenant in 1987, a captain in 1990, a battalion chief in 1993 and assistant chief in 2002. He has an associate’s degree in fire protection engineering from Delaware Technical and Community College scheduled to graduate from the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program in 2007.