Ron Stephens joined the Tacoma (Wash.) Fire Department in 1977 as a recruit at the age of 23. After 29 years of climbing the ranks, he was appointed chief of department on July 27.

Stephens, who had been serving as interim chief since last August following the retirement of Chief Eileen Lewis, also becomes the first black person to lead the 435-member department in its 126-year history.

Following a nationwide search that drew about 30 candidates, Tacoma interview teams quizzed four finalists before Stephens received unanimous recommendation.

All of the candidates were well-qualified, according to City Manager Eric Anderson, but he made it clear that in the end, Stephens’ selection was easy.

“He proved himself to be the best candidate in a very, very distinguished field,” Anderson said, adding that Stephens’ “steadiness, experience and capacity to plan out what he wants to do in the department” were key factors in his selection.

The other finalists were Dan Haverty, assistant fire chief and director of economic development and planning for the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Department; Phillip Garcia, fire chief of Santa Ana, Calif.; and Niles Ford, deputy fire chief for logistics and safety in South Fulton County, Ga.