Novi Fire Captain John Martin has been promoted to assistant fire chief, filling a position that has been vacant for the past 10 years because of a reorganization within the public safety department.

Martin has been fighting fires since 1997 when he joined the Macomb Township Fire Department. He served as Macomb’s firefighter and training coordinator until 2006.

He actually started as an auxiliary firefighter for the Novi Fire Department in 2003. He was promoted to fire training lieutenant in 2005. In January 2011, he was promoted to captain where he served as a shift supervisor. 

“I have every confidence Assistant Chief John Martin will take our excellent, combination fire department to all new levels of excellence and achievement,” Novi Public Safety Director David Molloy said. “John is a proven leader and is respected by those he serves with and our community partners. Fire Chief Jeff Johnson and I look forward to working with him as we enhance our public safety programs throughout the community.”

More: Meet the Novi mayor and his challenger in November's election

More: Meet the candidates for Novi City Council

Martin has an associate degree in fire science from Macomb Community College, and a bachelor’s degree in public safety administration from Eastern Michigan University.

He graduated from EMU’s Fire Staff and Command Executive Leadership Program in 2010, and he has graduated from University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service’s LEAD program.

Martin also has completed professional emergency management training. 

For more information about the Novi Fire Department, visit cityofnovi.org.

Contact Susan Vela at svela@hometownlife.com or 248-303-8432. Follow her on Twitter @susanvela.