First posted 11/26/2008 12:27 p.m.
Oak Park Deputy Fire Chief Mark Puknaitis has been selected the new fire chief in Naperville. The 23-year veteran was chosen from a group of 12 finalists, including Naperville’s acting fire chief and its assistant chief, to head the 200-member, 10-station department.
Puknaitis, whose last day in Oak Park will be Dec. 12, has lived in Naperville the past 17 years He has a master’s degree in public administration from Northern Illinois University and is a graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program.
“I’m thrilled with the opportunity to advance my career,” Puknaitis said. “Being chief is something I’ve always aspired to be.”
Puknaitis said Oak Park will always hold a special place in his heart as the town where he grew from a green fire rookie to a seasoned expert, and where he met his wife.
“The only place I’d have left Oak Park for is Naperville,” he said.
Oak Park Chief William Bell said Oak Park’s loss was Naperville’s gain. “While we hate to see Mark go, we fully understand why he has chosen to pursue this great career opportunity,” Bell said. “His decision to leave, while unfortunate for Oak Park, is the right one for his family, his career and for himself.”
Village Manager Tom Barwin called Puknaitis’ selection “a compliment both to his abilities and to the quality of the staff and programs of the Oak Park Fire Department.” Bell said the fire department “is better for having had” Puknaitis’ service.
“Deputy Chief Puknaitis has been an important member of our emergency response team for more than a decade,” said Bell. “His dedication to the village, the department and his duties has earned him the respect of his peers and those who have worked with him.”
Puknaitis said Monday he’s proud of that service and the role he played in advancing the Oak Park Fire Department. He cited three accomplishments: Improvements in the department’s advanced life support ambulance capabilities, promotion and wide distribution of automatic electronic defibrillators throughout the village, and successful participation in a national fire accreditation program.
Oak Park, he said, is one of only six fire departments nationwide, and the only one in Illinois, to be accredited in both Emergency Medical Service and emergency fire response. Naperville, Puknaitis said, is accredited only in emergency fire response, a situation he hopes to change.
“I look forward to using my skills and abilities in Naperville with the same zeal and enthusiasm that I have had here,” he said.