Nearly nine months after throwing his hat into the ring, and after several unexplained delays in the candidate selection process, Pagan said Thursday he is glad for the opportunity to move forward as chief of the department he has worked in for more than 20 years.

City Manager Patrick Baker announced Thursday that Pagan, who stepped up from his deputy chief role when Chief Otis Cooper retired Oct. 1, will graduate into the $108,000 annual salary position effective immediately.

The decision came after several months without word from Baker about his choice for fire chief, which he promised in November to complete by February 2006.

Pagan, who first began working for the city in 1980 as a public safety officer, has "paid his dues" according to City Councilman Mike Woodard. Pagan has served in almost every function of the Fire Department, including firefighter, fire engine driver, fire captain and battalion chief and has earned the respect of his department, Woodard said. "While there's been a long interim period [without a permanent chief], he has been able to maintain the morale of his department and I think that speaks to his leadership capability," he said. Morale had "kind of bottomed out," Woodard said, under the leadership of Chief Cooper. Councilwoman Diane Catotti echoed Woodard's sentiments, explaining that she believes morale has improved greatly since Pagan took over.

Pagan was reluctant to talk about when or how he was named chief, saying only that he "would stick with" the official announcement made by Baker early Thursday.

Pagan would say that he believed part of the reason he was selected as chief was because of his relationship with his staff. Before Baker's selection, two other candidates came to Durham and participated in a "meet and greet" with the Fire Department, Pagan said. Staff members were invited to "submit feedback and comments," all of which, Pagan said, Baker read and took into consideration. Not one to brag, Pagan would only say that he received "favorable reactions" from department members. But others, including Councilman Thomas Stith, said that Pagan is more than well-liked by his department. "They've been very impressed by his capability," Stith said.

Pagan is pursuing his master's degree in Executive Fire Service Leadership from Grand Canyon University, an online correspondent school. He has a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from N.C. Central University.