Eric Krites was promoted to Assistant Fire Chief and Wade Dexter was promoted to Platoon Commander during a brief ceremony last Wednesday afternoon.

"This is an exciting day," said Fire Chief Matt Simmons. "This was a competitive process that involved a written exam and an assessment."

Krites is a graduate of Russia High School. He graduated from the Springfield Fire Academy in 1990 in firefighting, and graduated from Upper Valley EMS education in 1991 with a paramedic certification.

He served as a firefighter with the St. Mary's Fire Department, then was hired in Troy on February 28, 1993. At age 21, he was the youngest member of the Troy Fire Department. He was promoted to Platoon Commander in 2014.

He and his wife, Jenell, have four children.

Dexter graduated from Tippecanoe High School and spent 7 years in the Ohio Air National Guard. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the Hulman Institute of Technology. He graduated from Englewood Career Technology Center in 2001 in firefighting and graduated from Upper Valley EMS

Education in 2002 with a Paramedic Certification.

Dexter began his career with the Troy Fire Department in 2003.

He and his wife, Andrea, have six children.

(L to R) Assistant Fire Chief Gary Stanley, Platoon Commander Wade Dexter, Fire Chief Matt Simmons and Assistant Fire Chief Eric Krites