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Deputy Chief Jeff Lykins has been promorted to Director and Chief of the Dayton Fire Department, effective January 17.
A public ceremony will be held Friday, Feb.7, at 10 a.m. at City Hall, 101 W. Third St. (Commission Chambers, second floor).
Lykins began his career as a firefighter with the Dayton Fire Department in 1992. He was promoted to fire lieutenant in 2000, fire captain in 2008, assistant fire chief in 2015, and deputy chief in 2017.
As Director and Chief, Lykins will oversee a department of 344 full-time employees, including 322 uniformed members (firefighters, lieutenants, captains, district chiefs, EMTs and paramedics).
“Dayton is very well-served by our professional fire department, and we are confident that the tradition of excellence will continue under Chief Lykins’ leadership,” said Dickstein. “His experience, training and commitment to innovation have prepared him for the demands of the Director and Chief position.”
Chief Lykins has been credentialed as a chief fire officer by the Ohio Fire Chiefs’ Association and has obtained fire officer I-IV certifications. He has a bachelor’s degree in fire science from Anna Maria College and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Waldorf University. Chief Lykins will graduate from the National Fire Academy’s executive fire officer program in March 2020.
Lykins has received numerous awards for his actions at fire scenes. He received the Box 21 Rescue Squad/Dayton Fire Department Firefighter of Year Award (1999-2000) and the Dayton Fire Department Medal of Honor in 2000. He was also the 1999 recipient of the Robert B. Jacob Award of Merit, presented by the Hundred Club of Dayton.
Lykins assumes the office of Director and Chief following the retirement of Jeffrey L. Payne, who served the Dayton Fire Dept. for 31 years.
