Burlington Fire Department Celebrates Promotions of Eight Members

BURLINGTON — Chief Michael Patterson is pleased to share that eight members of the Burlington Fire Department recently received promotions.

Andrew Connerty was promoted to Assistant Fire Chief. Steven McLean was appointed Captain. F. Micheal Fontannay, James Hapenney Jr., Shaun Kenney, Craig Callahan, Sean Connors and Ernest Covino III were each promoted to Lieutenant.

They were appointed at a ceremony on Monday, Jan. 13 by Town Administrator Paul Sagarino and will be sworn in at a later date.

“Last night was a testament of the dedication and hard work of those who were promoted,” Chief Patterson said. “I am incredibly proud of them and wish them all the best as they take the next step in their careers.”

Assistant Fire Chief Andrew Connerty

Assistant Chief Connerty has been with the department for 25 years.

He held the rank of captain for eight years and currently serves as a shift commander for the department. Prior to that, he served as the department’s Training and Communications captain for five years, a lieutenant for eight years, a firefighter for eight years and a dispatcher for two years.

Along with his numerous Fire Service Certifications, Connerty completed the Department of Fire Services Chief Fire Officer Management Training Program and earned his accreditation as a Massachusetts Fire Chief.

He serves as a member of the Massachusetts Fire Training Council and the Massachusetts Institute of Fire Department Instructors.

He also serves as secretary of the International Association of Firefighters Local 2313, and is a member of the Fire Department Staffing Committee and Advanced Life Support (ALS) Committee.

He holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Fire Administration from Waldorf University.

Capt. Steven McLean

Capt. McLean has been with the department for 27 years.

He held the rank of lieutenant for 17 years. He was most recently assigned to the department’s Fire Prevention Division in 2017 and served as the lieutenant for Groups One and Two prior to that. He joined the department as a firefighter in 1993.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in emergency management from Rivier College in Nashua, N.H.

Lt. F. Michael Fontannay

Lt. Fontannay has been with the department for 27 years.

He served as an acting lieutenant in 2019. He was previously a firefighter and EMT for the department. He is a member of the Burlington Fire Department’s Honor Guard and a bagpiper for the Westford and District Pipes and Drums.

He hold a bachelor’s degree in urban forestry and arboriculture from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and an associate’s degree in fire protection and safety technology from Middlesex Community College.

Lt. James Hapenney Jr.

Lt. Hapenney has been with the department for 21 years and is a second generation firefighter at the department. His father, James Hapenney Sr., was a firefighter with the department for 27 years.

Lt. Hapenney has worked as a firefighter and EMT for the department since 1999. He has served on the Executive Board of the International Association of Firefighters Local 2313.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in special education and adapted physical education from Bridgewater State University.

Lt. Shaun Kenney

Lt. Kenney has been with the department for 17 years and is a second generation firefighter. His father, John Kenney, served as a member of the Cambridge Fire Department.

Lt. Kenney has spent most of his career as a firefighter and EMT for the department. He served as an acting fire lieutenant on four separate occasions between 2009 and 2012. He served as a member of the Health and Safety, and Public Relations Committees for the International Association of Firefighters Local 2313.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Merrimack College and an associate’s degree in fire science from Middlesex Community College.

Lt. Craig Callahan

Lt. Callahan has been with the department for the past 11 years. He is a second generation firefighter for the department. His father, William Callahan, served as a firefighter for 30 years. His uncle, Lee Callahan, was also a member of the department, retiring as Chief in 2010.

Lt. Callahan has spent his career as a firefighter and EMT for the department since 2009.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in business marketing and mass communications from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn., and a bachelor’s degree in fire science from Columbia Southern University in Orange Beach, Ala.

Lt. Ernest Covino

Lt. Covino has been with department for the past 17 years.

He has spent his career as a firefighter and EMT for the department since 2003. He has also worked as a CPR Instructor for the past 16 years.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in computer science from Stonehill College.

Lt. Sean Connors

Lt. Connors has been a firefighter and EMT for the department for the past 22 years.

He also serves as a Special Police Officer for the town and as Vice President of the International Association of Firefighters Local 2313 Executive Board. He was a member of the Fire Station Two committee, assisting the project team with the design of the new station.

He is a veteran of the United States Army and served as a combat engineer.

He earned an associate’s degree in fire protection and safety technology from the Middlesex Community College.

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