Round Rock Fire Chief David Coatney was chosen Monday as the new chief of the Dallas Fire-Rescue Department.
Coatney, 55, did not respond to a request for comment Monday. According to Dallas officials, he will start his new job July 13.
“David Coatney’s leadership for the Round Rock Fire Department has been phenomenal in his five-year tenure here,” City Manager Laurie Hadley said in a statement Monday.
“His professionalism is unmatched and he has successfully guided the department through a period of significant organizational and capital growth, including the addition of two new stations, both of which are currently under construction,” Hadley said.
Assistant Chief Billy Wusterhausen will serve as interim chief while the city of Round Rock conducts a national search for Coatney’s replacement, in a news release.
Coatney will replace Dallas Fire-Rescue Chief Louie Bright III, who retired in March.
Coatney beat out six other finalists for the job, including four assistant chiefs from Dallas Fire-Rescue, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Before he became fire chief in Round Rock, Coatney was an assistant fire chief in San Antonio. He worked for the San Antonio Fire Department for 25 years in various roles, including as chief of the fire suppression division and serving in the executive office of the Emergency Medical Services division.
———
©2016 Austin American-Statesman, Texas
Visit Austin American-Statesman, Texas at www.statesman.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
