Rock Island Fire Marshal Greg Marty has been appointed as the department’s new deputy fire chief, effective Wednesday, July 17.
The new appointment was announced by the city’s Fire Chief Bob Graff in a news release Thursday, July 18. Deputy Chief Marty replaces Assistant Fire Chief Terry Smith, who retired on Wednesday. The release said the position has been renamed deputy fire chief to reflect the duties of the role.
“Fire Marshal Marty has demonstrated exceptional dedication and leadership throughout his career, and his promotion reflects his commitment to the safety and well-being of our community,” Mr. Graff said in the release. “We look forward to his continued contributions in his new role as deputy fire chief.”
Mr. Marty was hired by the Rock Island Fire Department on Aug. 20, 2001. He was promoted to lieutenant Aug. 13, 2007; to captain Nov. 29, 2010; and to fire marshal (battalion chief) on Jan. 21, 2013.
As fire marshal, Mr. Marty improved the efficiency of the fire investigation division by increasing the number of investigators and investing in new tools and better personal protective equipment.
He also was Rock Island’s first Illinois certified arson investigator and implemented the City of Rock Island’s Community Risk Reduction Plan.
As part of this plan, he adopted the full fire code, making Rock Island the first downstate municipality to champion the added life-safety of residential fire sprinklers. He also led the local initiative to install free smoke alarms in the homes of Rock Island residents.
During Mr. Marty’s tenure as fire marshal, Rock Island was awarded the Fire-Star Fire Safe Community designation. He served as president of the Quad City Area Fire Marshal’s Association, chairman of the MABAS 43 Fire Investigation Team, and currently serves as a director for the Illinois Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators.
Prior to holding the fire marshal position, Mr. Marty was a paramedic, a member of the MABAS 43 HazMat Team and Technical Rescue Team, and he pioneered the purchase and procurement of the Rock Island Fire Department’s first fire/rescue boat as chairman of the Foreign Fire Tax Committee.
In his new role, the deputy chief will oversee the Operations Division and the Training Division and assist with other administrative roles and responsibilities to serve the department’s needs, the release said.
“It is both a privilege and a profound responsibility to serve as the deputy fire chief of the Rock Island Fire Department,” Mr. Marty said. “Ensuring the safety and well-being of every citizen and every member of the Rock Island Fire Department shall always be our highest priority.”
