New fire Chief named at Tampa International Airport
James Billotte was selected as the new chief of Tampa Fire Rescue's ARFF station at TPA.
Tampa International Airport and Tampa Fire Rescue are proud to announce James Billotte as the new Chief of TPA’s ARFF (Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting) Station 2. His first day on the job was October 16.
Chief Billotte spent more than 31 years serving the public as a firefighter in Hernando County with both Spring Hill Fire and Hernando County Fire Rescue. Beginning in 1991, he rose through the ranks from a Firefighter EMT, Captain, Training Chief, Battalion Chief and Division Chief for Operations, before finally retiring from Hernando County as Deputy Fire Chief.
During his career, he helped Hernando County formalize its ARFF training for the Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport and spent time training at Tampa International Airport with Tampa Fire Rescue.
“That experience was part of what had me so excited about coming back,” said Chief Billotte. “Tampa Fire Rescue and Tampa International Airport are well known as extremely professional organizations and to be a part of this synergistic partnership is both exciting and humbling.”
The Chief says he’s looking forward to the unique nature of working within an airport firefighting station and hopes to bring a different perspective and new ideas to help his team continue to innovate and improve. “With all of the future expansion, I’m sure there will be growth and demand for emergency services here as well.”
Chief Billotte has been married for 29 years and has three adult children. In his off time, he loves golf, spending time on the water and landscaping around his home.