Waterford ― Michael Howley has retired as the town’s director of fire services.

Howley retired July 26. The town is looking to fill his former position, Human Resources Director Christine Walters said Wednesday.

Stephen Dubicki, the fire marshal, has been appointed as interim director. First Selectman Rob Brule said Howley trained Dubicki prior to his retirement.

The town has not posted the position on its website’s “current employment opportunities” page. Whoever fills the role would be charged with overseeing the Waterford Fire Department, which encompasses the town’s paid firefighters and five private fire departments.

Howley was hired in May 2021 to fill a vacancy left by the retirement of Bruce Miller. He previously worked as chief of Middletown’s South Fire District. Prior to that, he spent 23 years as a Middletown firefighter in roles that included lieutenant and captain.

Last year, he served as president of the Connecticut State Fire Chiefs Association.

Brule thanked Howley for his three years of service to the community during remarks he gave when Howley retired.

“Despite having to learn the do’s and don’ts of Waterford very quickly, Chief, you managed to focus on the big stuff. Incident command. Response times. Staffing. Apparatus. Equipment. Five fire stations, and the neighborhoods where they were located,” he said.

Brule said Howley always made time to talk about fire data with him.

“The trends and the future needs of the town ― It’s what you do. It’s your life. It’s all you know. And for that, you will be missed,” he said.

In his retirement letter, Howley said he would be interested in still working as a consultant for the building committee working on the new fire station at Oswegatchie because he wants to see it get built.

Brule said Dubicki, a resident, started his career in the 1990s with Norwich’s East Great Plains Fire Department. He was a New York City police officer for three years. Since starting his career with the town in 2008, he has also been a firefighter and fire inspector.

Editor’s Note: This version corrects the name of Waterford’s Human Resources Director.

d.drainville@theday.com