Miamisburg, Ohio - Jan. 12, 2012:  Miami Township Fire Chief Matthew H. Queen will be the first chief of the new Miami Valley Fire District (MVFD) when it officially launches later this year.

At a meeting of the District?s Board of Trustees today, Chief Queen was sworn-in to oversee the future day-to-day operation of the new agency, which will represent a merger of the Miamisburg and Miami Township fire departments.  The MVFD will provide fire and emergency medical services to both jurisdictions.

?Matt has been heavily involved in the work to establish the new Fire District, and our Board is confident in his ability to lead this groundbreaking initiative,? said Miamisburg City Council member John Stalder, who serves as president of the District Board of Trustees.

Queen was promoted to Miami Township chief in 2009 after serving six years as deputy chief.  He has been a member of the Township Fire Department since 1991 and earned its Fire Officer of the Year award in 2007.  Previously, he worked as a firefighter in Moraine, West Carrollton and New Lebanon.  At New Lebanon, he was named Firefighter of the Year in 1991 and EMS Employee of the Year in 1992.  He has degrees from Southwestern College and Sinclair Community College and is a graduate of the Ohio Fire Executive program sponsored by the Ohio Fire Chiefs Association.

?I appreciate this opportunity from the Board of Trustees, and I look forward to the unique challenge ahead,? Chief Queen said.  ?The work is just beginning, but we have the type of experienced leadership and dedicated crews in both departments to make this venture successful.  I look forward to working alongside my colleagues to get the Fire District up and running and providing the type of safety services expected by our communities.?

Current Miamisburg Fire Chief Bob Bobbitt plans to retire in 2012 and did not seek the position of District fire chief.  He continues to work through the transition period and lead the Miamisburg Fire Department.

Since elected officials from both jurisdictions formally approved the creation of the Fire District on Aug. 31, the Board of Trustees and staff members have been working on various operational issues, policies and procedures that will govern the agency.  Joint training and operational support between the two departments have increased, including a recent relocation of Township crews from Station No. 49 on Linden Avenue to Miamisburg?s larger Station No. 53 on First Street.

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