After serving as Interim Fire Chief for three weeks, the Board of Fire Commissioners named Greg Ahearn Fire Chief of Woodinville Fire & Rescue. Although the decision was made at the Sept. 8 Board meeting, the official swearing in was done on Oct. 5. In front of a standing room only crowd, Chief Ahearn took the oath of office and was sworn in by Board Chair Tim Osgood. Osgood read a short biography on Chief Ahearn, summarizing his 28-year career with WF&R. Noted was his quick rise to positions of leadership and many awards over the years for outstanding service to the department. After reading the bio, Osgood then read a letter from former Woodinville Fire Commissioner Ben May, who has written articles on fire department leadership for Firehouse magazine. In 2007, May featured Ahearn in an article describing the ingredients of a great fire service leader. May was unable to attend the swearing in but mentioned in his letter, “Woodinville firefighters are among the best I have encountered and Chief Ahearn is a result of the quality and professionalism of this department. He represents the finest standards of leadership in the fire service and of the men and women of Woodinville Fire & Rescue.”