PORTSMOUTH — A firefighter in Hampton Roads for more than two decades, Nestor Mangubat will serve as Portsmouth’s new fire chief, the city announced Friday.
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Mangubat joined the Portsmouth department in March 2018 as deputy fire chief. He spent more than 21 years with Chesapeake’s fire department before that, working as a fire battalion chief and serving as the fire chief’s executive officer for nine years, Portsmouth city spokeswoman Dana Woodson wrote in a news release.
He replaces former Chief Jim Hoffler, who retired earlier this month after 41 years with the department.
Mangubat had been serving as acting chief before being named to the job officially.
He has a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and management from Regent University and a master’s in business management and leadership from Liberty University, according to the release. He graduated from the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy and sits on the Virginia Fire Chiefs Association board of directors.
Margaret Matray, 757-222-5216, margaret.matray@pilotonline.com