After serving as interim chief since June, William Farhat has been appointed chief of the University of Notre Dame Fire Department and assistant director of the University’s Department of Risk Management and Safety.
Farhat came to Notre Dame as an on-call firefighter in 2006 and had served as assistant chief since 2007.He succeeds John Antonucci, who was Notre Dame’s fire chief for 14 years.
“Bill was selected because of his excellent leadership and management skills, as well as his progressive vision for the fire department’s future,”said Robert Zerr, director of risk management and safety.
Bringing 19 years of public safety experience to his new position, Farhat’s service includes law enforcement, as well as fire and emergency medical service.He is certified as a firefighter and investigator, police officer, paramedic, hazardous materials technician, confined space technician and as a diver.His training also includes weapons of mass destruction responder operations, juvenile fire-setter intervention and child death investigation.
“I hope to be able to build on the department’s proud history of service by enhancing public education, expanding fire department training and striving to be a leader in campus fire safety,”Farhat said.
Previously, Farhat served as a road patrol deputy, fire investigator and hazardous materials response team member for the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department.He also worked for the Chikaming Township Police and Fire Departments in Harbert, Mich., where he divided his time as a police officer and paramedic for the township’s ambulance service and at the same time served as a battalion chief for the fire department.He remains a paid, on-call firefighter for Chikaming Township.
Farhat was graduated from Siena Heights University in Adrian, Mich., and the Law Enforcement Academy at Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, Colo., where he also served as a police officer and paramedic.
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