Division Chief and former Acting Deputy Chief Mark Terry will lead the Gary Fire Department, Mayor Jerome Prince announced in a news release on Tuesday.
Terry replaces Sean O’Donnell, who Prince named as fire chief shortly after taking office in 2020. City spokesman Michael Gonzalez wrote in a message to the Post-Tribune that the transition was motivated by O’Donnell’s desire to return to the firefighting ranks, where he will serve as a captain.
Prince praised both Terry and O’Donnell in his statement.
“Chief Terry has a remarkable record of amazing service in the Gary Fire Department, and I know our residents and businesses, our firefighters and our EMTs are in great hands,” he said. “And, I’m grateful for Sean O’Donnell’s hands-on leadership of the department. You don’t often see the top leaders of large departments continue to fight fires, but he often did.”
Terry has filled a variety of roles in the department, including engineer firefighter, battalion chief, and emergency medical services director.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to lead the men and women of the Gary Fire Department, and I really look forward to working with them to conquer the challenges facing all of us,” Chief Terry said. “Being a firefighter is more than just a job. It’s calling, and we have a family of brave people who have dedicated to their lives to helping others.”
adalton@chicagotribune.com
