The Milton Fire Rescue Department has leveled up one of its own, putting Richard Bushman in the hot seat as its new deputy chief. After more than ten years of service with Milton and a wealth of experience under his belt elsewhere, Bushman's promotion was a natural next step, the department said.

He's taking over field operations from Deputy Chief Mark Stephens who recently hung up his helmet for retirement. Bushman, will be working alongside fellow Deputy Chiefs Alex Fortner and Matt Marietta, under the watchful eye of Chief Gabe Benmoussa. Benmoussa, praised Bushman's track record in a statement. "Deputy Chief Bushman has been a major asset for Milton Fire-Rescue for years, and we’re confident that he’ll continue to deliver for our department and citizens in this new role," Benmoussa said, according to an announcement on the city's website.

Born and raised in Columbus, Bushman's early days in firefighting started with his joining the Ellerslie Volunteer Fire Department in 1989, just a stone's throw away in the grand scale of his career. His journey took him through various roles from training chief at Ellerslie to a series of specialist positions at Fulton County Fire Department, including tactical medic and hazardous material technician.

His Milton tenure began in 2012 as a firefighter, and since then, he's been on the move—as a Fire Apparatus Operator, Captain, and, most recently, Battalion Chief. Alongside fighting flames and scaling ladders, Bushman fortified his expertise, earning two degrees, in Fire Science and Fire Administration, at Columbia State University. His new role at Milton signifies a confluence of hard-earned knowledge and on-the-ground experience.