The Town of Ridgefield has appointed Rommie L. Duckworth as its new Fire Chief, effective June 6, 2025. Chief Duckworth brings over three decades of fire and EMS experience to the role, including more than 20 years of leadership with the Ridgefield Fire Department, where he most recently served as Senior Captain and EMS Coordinator. 

Chief Duckworth is a nationally recognized leader in fire and emergency services, known for his innovative work in firefighter education, EMS system design, and leadership development. He has led Ridgefield’s EMS operations to national acclaim, earning the department recognition from the American Heart Association for excellence in cardiac resuscitation performance. As EMS Coordinator, he developed an in-house education program and performance improvement systems that significantly improved clinical outcomes while lowering training costs.

Chief Duckworth’s contributions extend well beyond Ridgefield. He serves on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) and chairs its Lighthouse Leadership mentoring program, a national initiative to develop future EMS leaders. He is a member of several editorial and advisory boards, including Fire Engineering Magazine, JEMS (Journal of Emergency Medical Services), and the NFPA 1900 technical committee on fire apparatus standards. He is also a nationally published author and subject matter expert, contributing to nearly every major EMS and firefighter textbook in use today.

In Ridgefield, Chief Duckworth has spearheaded multiple department-wide initiatives, including the transition to iPad-based apparatus systems, the creation of a no-cost learning management system for training and OSHA compliance, and the development of a town-wide emergency road closure and coordination dashboard. His leadership has helped build lasting partnerships between Fire, Police, Dispatch, Public Works, the Board of Education, and Ridgefield Public Schools.

Chief Duckworth lives in western Connecticut with his wife and son. He will continue to represent Ridgefield Fire on regional and national platforms, focusing on strengthening local response capabilities, improving firefighter recruitment and retention, and building a resilient, sustainable emergency services system for the town.