Former West Sussex firefighter Martin Burrell is returning to the brigade as its new chief officer.
Martin, 47, takes over from Ken Lloyd who was recently appointed the county council's director of community services in a managerial shake-up at County Hall.
He started his career with the London Fire Brigade in 1973 before moving to West Sussex in 1992 as a senior divisional officer.
Martin left the county for Somerset in 1996 to be deputy fire chief before being promoted to the county's top job in 1997.
He said: "It is an honour to be offered the post of county fire officer for West Sussex and I intend to continue to develop a very effective service."
Martin, married with two sons, takes up his post at brigade headquarters in Chichester on January 1.
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