ATHOL — The composition of the town’s Fire Chief Search Committee was finalized Thursday, according to Athol Town Manager Shaun Suhoski.

Athol Fire Chief John Duguay plans top retire in September, and the town is in the process of hiring a fire chief/emergency management director responsible for managing all administrative and operational aspects of a full-time, full-service fire and ambulance department.

The town wants a candidate with a record of demonstrated success and who possesses outstanding leadership, communication and budgeting skills.

Roughly 20 applications were received by the July 24 priority consideration deadline.

Members of the Search Committee and their positions, are:

Board of Selectmen member — Rebecca Bialecki, appointed by the Board of Selectmen; Citizen-at-large designee — Barbara Savoy, appointed by the Board of Selectmen; Finance & Warrant Advisory Committee member — Ken Duffy, appointed by the FWAC chairman; Department head designee — Cathy Savoy, appointed by the town manager; and for the position of sitting or retired fire chief on the committee — Paul Zbikowski, appointed by the town manager.

Suhoski said Zbikowski has experience in combination departments, having served as Ashburnham’s fire chief for 21 years, and in the town of Berlin since 2016.

According to his biography, Zbikowski is a 38-year fire service veteran. He obtained more than $3.5 million in grants and donations for Ashburnham and brought the department ambulance service to the paramedic level. Coming to Berlin on Feb. 1, 2016, the chief led the transformation of the new Berlin Fire & EMS Department. He is working to develop a succession plan, equipment consolidation plan and a new staffing plan for the department.

He has an associate’s degree in fire science and bachelor’s and master’s degree in business administration. He is a credentialed chief officer and holds National Certifications as a fire officer, fire inspector and fire instructor. He is member of the Fire Science Advisory Board and the adjunct faculty at Mount Wachusett Community College. He is a past president of the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts, served as chairman of the Massachusetts Fire Sprinkler Coalition and also served as chairman/member of Legislative Committee for Fire Chief’s Association of Massachusetts for nine years. He was a guest speaker at the International Conference for Fire & Rescue Executives.

Zbikowski has represented the International Association of Fire Chiefs on two People to People Ambassadors Missions of Understanding with foreign Fire Services to China and South Africa. He is a recipient of the Department of Defense Seven Seals Award and he is a four-time recipient of the President of the United States Volunteer Service Award.

He is state vice chairman for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves, and also the secretary/treasurer for Massachusetts Fire District 8.

Zbikowski is also a third-degree black belt in taekwondo. He and his wife of 34 years, Marie, have four children and one granddaughter.

Suhoski said the search committee will be connected via email next week to begin the process of reviewing applications.