Christiansburg will replace its retiring rescue squad captain with a man who has more than two decades of emergency medical services experience.

The town announced Wednesday that it has hired Joe Coyle, 44, who currently serves as a Virginia Department of Emergency Management director. VDEM is a statewide department that provides resources and expertise to local, state, federal and volunteer EMS organizations, according to its website. Coyle served as Roanoke's emergency management coordinator before joining VDEM in 2005.

"I'd like to build a truly world-class organization that delivers the highest quality of care in a prompt manner," Coyle said in a town-issued news release.

Coyle said his focus will be on call response, education, prevention and integration of technology.

Coyle's start date is Sept. 1 and he will earn an annual salary of $59,853, according to the town.

He has been a registered paramedic for 17 years, and has worked in the emergency room of a hospital for 15 years.

Throughout his career, he has remained an active EMS volunteer on rescue squads, including the Cave Spring Rescue Squad, where he is a life member and volunteers on weekends though he lives in Richmond. Coyle volunteered with the Christiansburg Rescue Squad in 2007 and was named 2007 Rookie of the Year.

He replaces 47-year rescue squad veteran Kelly Walters, who is set to retire Aug. 31. Walters has been captain for the past decade and several times before that.

The town received 26 applications for the position, with the pool consisting mostly of Virginia residents, said town spokeswoman Becky Wilburn.