WESTPORT — A public safety consultant and former interim Westport deputy fire chief has been selected as the town’s interim fire chief.

Mark Amatrudo, of Branford, will fill the Fire Department’s top job, replacing Deputy Chief Nicholas Marsan, who had been named acting fire chief in March, according to an announcement Thursday afternoon by First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker.

Marsan, who was named acting chief after Michael Kronick left the chief’s job to take a state job, will continue as deputy chief and the town’s emergency management director.

Describing what she said was a “unique” search for an interim fire chief, Tooker said she wanted someone in the role “who could create an environment that would allow the next generation of leaders in the WFD to grow.”

The first selectwoman gave no indication when she plans to make a permanent appointment to the chief’s job.

Amatrudo served as Westport’s interim deputy fire chief from 2005-07, and most recently has “focused on fire service, emergency management and homeland security consulting, especially in the areas of fire department evaluation, interoperable communications and cybersecurity for public safety dispatch systems,” according to the statement.

Over a quarter-century, he previously served as a career and volunteer assistant chief, deputy chief and/or acting chief. Before that, he worked as a certified public accountant.

Amatrudo, according to Tooker, holds the “highest possible level of fire service certifications” as a fire officer, fire service instructor, safety officer and has completed the FEMA professional development series.  He also served as a Connecticut Fire Academy instructor for almost 30 years, where he was chief instructor for various programs. In addition, he is an emergency medical technician.

As a consultant to fire departments and companies that manufacture products for first responders, he has conducted departmental assessments and improvement plans for Connecticut fire departments, as well as a customer service tracking and improvement program for the Fire Department in Phoenix, Ariz.

From 2013-19, Amatrudo was a member of the Governor’s Homeland Security Advisory Council and was the co-chairman of the Connecticut Citizen Corps Council, which oversees the state’s 74 community emergency response teams and 23 medical reserve corps units.

He earned a BS degree from Stonehill College and an executive MBA from the University of New Haven. He is a part-time adjunct UNH faculty member for fire science and emergency management programs.

Professional recognition for Amatrudo during his career, according to the announcement, includes the FEMA National Outstanding Citizen Corps Council Award, Connecticut Emergency Manager of the Year, Connecticut Fire Instructor of the Year, Connecticut Exchange Club Hero Award and Holmatro Rescue Award.