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Columbus Fire Department promotes 2 firefighters

Monday, May 18, 2026 at 12:20 PM

Courtesy-CFD

COLUMBUS, Ind. – The Columbus Fire Department (CFD) has announced the advancement of two of its members. Lt. Bryan Bailey has been promoted to the rank of Captain, and Firefighter Ben Noblitt is now a Lieutenant.

Capt. Bryan Bailey, a 16-year veteran of the department, was promoted to Lieutenant in 2022. During his CFD career, Capt. Bailey has served as the President of the Local 2190 Professional Firefighter Union, Pension Board Secretary, and Chairman of the Columbus Firemen's Cheer Fund.

Lt. Ben Noblitt has been with CFD for 15 years. During his tenure, he has also served as the Chairman of the Columbus Firemen's Cheer Fund.  

The Columbus Fire Department’s promotions process is a multi‑faceted evaluation designed to assess the readiness of prospective officers. Each candidate must complete a written examination, an oral interview, and a tactical assessment evaluation. In addition, candidate training histories and service records are thoroughly reviewed.

Columbus Fire Chief Andy Lay praised the officers’ accomplishments, saying, "I am proud of Captain Bryan Bailey and Lt. Ben Noblitt. Through their hard work and determination, they have shown that they lead from the front and act with unwavering integrity to place others over self, serving as the example that inspires others."

Officer promotions take effect on Monday, May 18, and will fill the vacancies created by the May 8 retirement of Capt. Dave Dwyer, who retired with 47 years of service with the Columbus Fire Department.

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