Mark Bradford, second-in-command of Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical for the past five years, was named the city’s new fire chief Tuesday.

He succeeds his friend and mentor Jim McSwain, who retired earlier this year after 27 years on the job. Bradford said Lawrence residents shouldn’t notice major changes to the department.

“It is a pleasure to work with this department,” Bradford said. “There really aren’t any issues that make you say, ‘Oh my God,’ or issues that need to be significantly changed. I think what we’ll do is sharpen our skills and continue to work to provide the best quality service we can.”

Bradford will oversee all operations of the 130-member department, which also provides ambulance service to all of Douglas County.

City Manager Mike Wildgen made the appointment. Bradford was chosen from among 20 applicants, and was interviewed by four panels that included city and county leaders, department staff and industry experts.

Mark Bradford, left, pictured with his son Zachary, 11, and wife, Trish, was named Lawrence's new fire chief Tuesday during a City Commission meeting at City Hall.

“I think everybody felt like he was the individual to lead this department into the future,” Wildgen said.

Bradford had served as acting chief since September when McSwain retired. The short tenure included overseeing the response to the Boardwalk Apartments fire that killed three people in October.

“That certainly was a tragedy, but it was an opportunity for me and others to observe his leadership, and I was very impressed,” Wildgen said.

Bradford, 46, came to the Lawrence department in February of 2001 after working as a manager for the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and after working for 23 years in the Lee’s Summit, Mo., fire department.

• 6News video: Bradford named as new fire chief
• Fire chief likely to be hired shortly (11-05-05)
• City manager: Field narrowed for new hires (10-03-05)
• McSwain embraces retirement after 27 years at helm of fire department (09-22-05)

Bradford said he had worked in virtually every position in a fire department, starting out in the communications department and later becoming a firefighter, a paramedic, a captain and an assistant chief. He still works part time as a paramedic on a helicopter flight crew for Life Flight.

“They could have searched forever and not found a better person,” McSwain said. “I encouraged the city the day I resigned to just go ahead and appoint him, but they said they couldn’t do that.”

Bradford said he expected to sit down with various elected officials to find out what goals they have for the department.

“We have to have timely response and we have to have enough people to meet the demand,” Bradford said.

Bradford, who took over his duties immediately, will receive an annual salary of $97,405.