(L-R): House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo, Winthrop Town Council President Peter Gill, Andrew Flanagan, Susan Flanagan, MWRA Board Member Paul E. Flanagan, Governor Deval Patrick and MWRA Executive Director Frederick Laskey. Photo by Axel Del Sid/Governor's Office

Governor Deval Patrick swore in Paul E. Flanagan to his first term on the MWRA Board of Directors on October 15. House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo, Winthrop Town Council President Peter Gill and Mr. Flanagan's family were in attendance.

Mr. Flanagan is the Fire Chief and Director of Emergency Management for the Town of Winthrop. Prior to his appointment as Fire Chief in 2008, he served as Captain and Operations Officer for 21 years and has been a member of the Winthrop Fire Department since 1978. He serves as Winthrop’s jurisdictional point of contact (JPOC) for Boston’s Urban Areas Security Initiative and continues to be an active participant in metropolitan Boston’s emergency planning community. Mr. Flanagan studied electrical science at the Franklin Institute of Technology and Fire Science at North Shore Community College.

Mr. Flanagan was appointed to the board by the Winthrop Town Council President in accordance with the MWRA Enabling Act.