Brade, Stacy named acting leaders of Cromwell FD

CROMWELL — Two veteran firefighters have been appointed to acting positions to lead the Fire Department while the fire district launches a search for a new full- time chief.

Jason Brade will serve as acting chief, while William J. Stacy will serve as the acting assistant chief for training and operations.

The appointments were announced Monday by the district’s executive director, Julius C. Neto.

The actions follow the resignation of Chief Michael Terenzio, who had been chief for the past four years.

Terenzio resigned after taking a position with one of the fire departments in West Haven. His last day in Cromwell was Friday.

In announcing the appointments, Neto said, “I am extremely gratified that we can move our dedicated and professional staff to senior positions during this transition phase, without any hesitation.

“The men and women of our Fire Department have shown their dedication and high competency and continue to be motivated to serve our community, during all of the changes that were required over the many months,” Neto said. “We will start the search for a permanent

fire chief post- haste.”

In a biography he provided, Brade said he “considered it an honor to be able to serve in the fire department’s highest position.”

A 11-year veteran of service in the department, Brade said he began “his mission to help and serve others at the young age of 14,” when he joined the Waterbury Police Explorers.

He subsequently earned a degree in justice and law administration from Western Connecticut State University and began his career in the emergency services sector in 1996.

Brade moved to Cromwell in 2009 to start a family. He and his wife now have four children.

At the same time, he joined the department, serving initially as a firefighter and then ascending up through the ranks as an emergency medical technician, a lieutenant and then captain at the Coles Road station and then as a fire department captain and assistant acting fire chief for training.

Along the way he has “received multiple awards, several lifesaving awards and has been honored as firefighter of the year.”

Stacy, 54, is a thirdgeneration firefighter.

He is married, and he and his wife Carla have two sons William Jr. and Joseph, both of whom also are firefighters.

Stacy joined the CFD in 1984 as a volunteer.

He joined the Allington Fire Department in West Haven in 1987 and climbed the ladder in West Haven as a lieutenant and then as a captain/shift commander before retiring in September in 2020.

Stacy said he had “dedicated my entire professional life to the art and craft of firefighting” and “was ready to take the next step with a little change of scenery.”

He got it by returning to Cromwell and renewing his connection with the Fire Department.