SALEM, Va. (WFXR) – The City of Salem has appointed an Interim Fire & EMS Chief on Thursday, December 6.
Salem City Manager, Chris Dorsey announced that he appointed 41-year-old Deputy Chief Matt Rickman as Interim Fire and EMS Chief for the City of Salem. Rickman will take over for Chief John Prillaman who is retiring after serving the Salem community for over 27 years.
(Photo Credit: City of Salem)
“On behalf of our employees and citizens, I want to thank Chief Prillaman for his many years of service to all of Salem during the past three decades,” Dorsey said. “I know he will be successful in this next chapter of life, and I am confident Matt Rickman will continue to ensure our citizens receive outstanding care in times of trouble as he leads this department on an interim basis.”
Rickman joined the Salem Fire & EMS Department back in July of 2005 as a recruit from the Roanoke Valley Regional Fire-EMS Recruit Schools. Rickman was number 7 in his graduating class and over the year has worked hard for 20 years for higher ranks for this interim.
“I am humbled to serve the community in this capacity alongside all the men and women who are dedicated to saving lives,” Rickman said. “We will continue to provide our citizens with excellent response times and build on the traditions established by the department’s previous chiefs.”
Rickman is a full-fledged paramedic and worked his way through firefighting rankings in Salem. In December 2008, he was promoted to Senior Firefights and in November 2011, he became Lieutenant and was named the city’s EMS Coordinator.
He attended Radford University where he majored in Biology with a minor in Chemistry to obtain his bachelor’s degree. He furthered his education at Troy University with a master’s in Public Administration.
Rickman obtained his credentials from the Centers for Public Safety Excellence as Chief EMS Officer (CEMSO) and a Chief Fire Officer (CFO) from the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer’s Program.
He has also served on many statewide and regional boards including the Governor’s EMS Advisory Board where he chairs the Workforce Development Committee.
Rickman is Botetourt native where he lives in the Blue Ridge with his family.
The City of Salem is still working to find a permanent Fire and EMS Chief.