Paul Bass Photo
Three firefighters have emerged as the top candidates to become the department’s next assistant chief after ranking highest in a promotional exam.
The Civil Service Commission revealed the results this week of the test for assistant fire chief of operations, one of two assistant chief positions in the department. Battalion Chief Matthew Marcarelli (pictured reporting last week at the Emergency Operations Center reporting during the snow storm) scored 87.79, the highest of five who took it.
Melissa Bailey Photo
Battalion Chief Ben Vargas (pictured in D.C. when he testified about then-Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor) came in second with 83.92 …
Melissa Bailey Photo
… and Drillmaster Frank Ricci (pictured after his side’s victory in the Ricci v. DeStefano Supreme Court case) third with 81.64. (Ricci, Vargas, and Marcarelli were all plaintiffs in that case.)
Five firefighters took the test, four of them passing, according to city human resources chief Stephen Librandi. The other who passed was Miguel Rosado, with a score of 73.90.
Under the civil service “rule of 3,” Chief Allyn Wright can recommend any of the top three scorers for the position to the Fire Commission, which makes the final decision. Wright said he hasn’t yet made a choice. The job pays $110,295 a year.
Thomas Neville currently holds the assistant chief position on an acting basis. He chose not to take the test to seek the job permanently. He plans to return to his position as a battalion chief once the commission approves a new assistant chief
“It came down to family issues — my wife travels quite a bit for work , and the schedules [as battalion chief] work out better for her schedule,” Neville said. “I enjoy working with Chief Wright. I like being part of the team — and I will be here to support him whether I’m in the assistant chief’s job or the battalion chief’s job.”
The department’s other assistant chief position, in charge of administration, is also currently vacant. Pat Egan, who held it, has been on administrative leave since Sept. 22. Chief Wright placed him on leave pending a city investigation and has recommended that the commission fire him. Click here, here and here to read about that.