Exeter Fire Department names new assistant, deputy chiefs
EXETER — Two longtime members of the Exeter Fire Department were officially promoted this week to their new leadership positions after a combined 50 years of service to the community.
Donald Matheson was sworn in Monday as the department's new assistant chief, while Ryan Booth was sworn in as deputy chief. The dual swearing-in ceremony was held during a Select Board meeting with family, friends and fellow members of the department on hand to celebrate their promotion.
Matheson assumed the assistant chief 's position after Chief Justin Pizon was promoted following the retirement of Chief Eric Wilking in April. Booth will now fill the deputy chief 's job previously held by Matheson.
“This is a great opportunity, and I think it's beneficial to have somebody that's worked their way through the department. Starting at ground zero in a chief-level position and trying to learn people and how they operate would certainly be more challenging,” Booth said.
Booth has worked for the Exeter Fire Department for nearly 17 years, while Matheson served for 33.
Booth, who grew up in Hampton, began his career as a call firefighter with the Tilton-Northfield Fire & EMS in 2004.
He then worked for the North Hampton Fire Department before coming has to Exeter, where he was promoted to lieutenant in 2022.
Matheson, an Exeter High School graduate, has spent his entire fire service career in Exeter and is the longest-serving member currently employed by the department.
“I'm looking forward to a different role with different responsibilities, but at the end of the day, I'm still a firefighter. I never forget where I came from, so whatever I can do in this position now to make it better for everybody downstairs, from firefighters, captains, and lieutenants, then I'll do that. That's my job, to make it better than what was handed to me,” he said.
For Booth, the new job will make things easier at home with his wife, daughter and twin boys, as he will no longer be working 24-hour shifts.
While he always thought that one day he would like to serve in a leadership role, he didn't expect it to happen as soon as it did, but he welcomes the opportunity to learn new skills, and he will have Matheson in an office just a few feet away to help guide him.
“I was in his office four or five times already today,” he said, laughing.
Like Matheson when he was deputy, Booth will now oversee the department's training and EMS programs. “I feel fortunate to be able to follow somebody like Donny who kind of laid the groundwork for training,” he said.