Acting Onset Fire Chief Ray Goodwin was officially named Chief by the Prudential Committee on Thursday, March 13.

"It's the achievement of a lifetime goal," Goodwin said.

Goodwin has worked for the department for nearly three decades. He joined Onset Fire in 1986 as an on-call firefighter and served as a call lieutenant from 1996 to 1997.

He joined the department full-time in 1997 as a lieutenant/inspector, and has served as captain/shift commander since 1999. He has also overseen the training of new recruits since 1998.

Goodwin was named acting chief last October after 16-year chief Howard Andersen passed away after a battle with cancer.

Goodwin said being named chief helps to solidify the chain of command and lets the department move forward.

"Now I'm more involved with the long-term planning," Goodwin said. "I'm more concerned with the next few years instead of the next few days."

Goodwin said said there are many nuances to the new position he has to learn, but that everyone from the police department, town officials and neighboring fire departments have been helpful and supportive.

"The department faces a lot of challenges in the future and a lot of work needs to be done," Goodwin said. "I'm digging in as hard as I can to get it going."