By Becky Robinette Wright
It’s official, on June 26 at a promotions ceremony at the Eanes-Pittman Public Safety Training Center, Edward Loy Senter,Jr raised his hand and took the oath of Fire Chief administered by The Honorable Judge Herbert C. Gill,Jr. of Chesterfield Circuit Court.
Senter previously served as chief for Norfolk Fire Department.
At the ceremony, the following personnel were promoted:
Katherine C. Duke to Automation Coordinator
Donna A. Loehr to Sr. Accounting Technician
Vol. Firefighter Phil Harding to Vol. Lieutenant
Vol. Firefighter William H. Hux, III to Vol. Lieutenant
Firefighter Joel J. Britt to Lieutenant
Firefighter Eugene C. Durham to Lieutenant
Firefighter Timothy M. McKay to Lieutenant
Firefighter Timothy M. Orr to Lieutenant
Firefighter Thomas W. Perry, Jr. to Lieutenant
Firefighter William H. Yates to Lieutenant
Lieutenant Amy K. Burnette to Captain
Lieutenant Jason E. Henderson to Captain
Lieutenant Michael A. Hite to Captain
Lieutenant John A. Murray to Captain
Lieutenant Thomas W. Tucker to Captain

On November 17,2008,Chief Senter was appointed fire chief for Chesterfield County by Administrator James J. “Jay” Stegmaier. Senter takes the reins of a department with 463 career, 264 active volunteer, and 49 civilian members. Chesterfield encompasses an area of 446 square miles with a population of over 300,000.