Williamsburg Fire Chief Pat Dent will step down July 1, while Human Services Director Peter Walentisch will retire from his post May 1, according to a city news release.
Walentisch joined the city’s staff in August 1990 as social services director and has been part of several changes in the department throughout the years. Walentisch also previously served as the city’s human services director, as well as the executive director of the Williamsburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
Dent came on board in February 2009 as deputy fire chief, but was promoted a year later following the retirement of Chief T.K. Weiler, the release states. As fire chief, Dent has improved the city’s public protection classification rating, placing the city’s fire department in the top 2 percent in the county.