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Kear was promoted Monday by Rockland County Executive Ed Day.
"Chris Kear is a highly trained and extremely experienced person who has already demonstrated his commitment to helping the people of Rockland," said Day. "Chris has been a career firefighter in Greenwich, CT, since 1998 and a volunteer at the Hillcrest Fire Company #1 since 1987. He understands the complexity of this position and has the expertise needed to succeed as Director."
After former Director Gordon Wren retired last year a comprehensive recruitment effort was undertaken to find a new director. The job specification was updated to better align with the operational, administrative and strategic functions of the position, Day said.
Candidates were then sought using social media, newspaper and online recruitment.
Kear was selected from a candidate of nine who took part in an extensive interview process by a panel of five professionals from Rockland County.
“We conducted this type of exhaustive search to ensure we found the best possible candidate for the position. The director must be able to collaborate with federal, state, and local officials. Chris is highly qualified, and we expect him to bring great success to his new position,” said Day.
Kear served as Chief of Hillcrest Fire Company #1 from April 2007 thru April 2009. He was the Director of the Rockland County Fire Chiefs Association from March 2011 thru March 2015.
He is certified as a Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Specialist and has taught classes at the Fire Training Center in fire safety with kids and their parents.
Areas that Kear plans to focus on include reducing false alarms throughout Rockland., reviewing the county's emergency plan, increasing recruitment, and overseeing a "facelift" of the Fire Training Center.
He will be paid $110,377 annually.
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