CARTERET COUNTY, N.C. -- Atlantic Beach Mayor Trace Cooper swears in the fire department's new chief Thursday afternoon at a pinning ceremony in the bays of Station 34.

• Fifteen-year Fire Chief Adam Snyder died tragically following a skiing accident in March.
• Snyder's Deputy Fire Chief Mike Simpson is taking his place.
• The fire department also promoted Senior Captain Casey Arthur to Deputy Fire Chief.

Fifteen-year Fire Chief Adam Snyder died tragically following a skiing accident in March.

Snyder's Deputy Fire Chief Mike Simpson is taking his place.

Simpson has been with ABFD for 19 years and says during that time he became close friends with Snyder.

Mayor Cooper said it was no question the fire department would promote from within to fill Snyder's shoes.

“He was a great leader and great leaders create other leaders around them. So the fact that we didn’t think for a second about looking outside the department. We knew we had our next generation or two of leaders on board," said Mayor Cooper.

The fire department also promoted Senior Captain Casey Arthur to Deputy Fire Chief.