The Goshen Fire Department celebrated a significant transition in leadership Friday night with a formal Change of Command ceremony, honoring retiring Chief Dan Sink’s 43 years of service and welcoming incoming Chief Anthony Powell.
Held at the historic Goshen Theater, the event drew family members, elected officials, former chiefs, and local dignitaries, who filled the venue to pay tribute to Chief Sink and witness Chief Powell’s swearing-in. Chief Sink, who served as the department’s leader for 19 years, was recognized for his considerable contributions to the community.
At 5:25 p.m., the command staff, official party, and Goshen Honor Guard took the stage. The ceremony began with a stirring rendition of the National Anthem by vocalist Stephanie Berry, accompanied by the Goshen High School Orchestra.
Event emcee Vince Turner introduced Chaplain Greg Lanzen, who delivered an invocation, setting a reverent tone before the ceremony shifted to honoring Chief Sink.
Former Goshen Mayor Jeremy Stutsman talked about Sink’s character while in command, followed by a heartfelt tribute from current Mayor Gina Leichty. The Honor Guard then presented Chief Sink with a commemorative flag that had flown over City Hall earlier that day.
Reflecting on his decades of service, Chief Sink expressed his pride and gratitude.
“For a Goshen-born kid, it has been an honor and privilege for me to be a firefighter/paramedic and serve the community where I was raised,” he said. “I am proud of what together all of us at GFD has accomplished, and I’m excited for our department’s future under the Command of Fire Chief Anthony Powell.”
Mayor Leichty administered the oath of office to Chief Powell, whose daughter, Teagan, spoke on behalf of their family. Powell thanked Mayor Leichty for the opportunity, acknowledging Chief Sink’s legacy, calling him a mentor and friend who has built a strong foundation for the department that he intends to build upon.”
“Our mission is to positively impact our community through service,” he said of his vision. “This mission will guide everything we do. We are here not just to respond to emergencies, but to make a lasting difference in the lives we touch.”
In a symbolic gesture of continuity, both Chief Sink and Chief Powell conducted a ceremonial notification call to dispatch, reinforcing the department’s enduring dedication to service.
Chief Sink, who joined the Goshen Fire Department in 1981, served as a Parkview Samaritan flight paramedic from 1991 to 2010 and became chief in 2005.
Powell joined the Goshen Fire Department in 2004 after working as a volunteer firefighter in Middlebury. He rose through the ranks to become a fire sergeant but left the department temporarily to care for his children. He returned full-time in 2018 and was named assistant fire chief in 2021. He and his wife Tara have two children.