Alumnus firefighter shares journey to FDNY battalion chief

On his first day at SUNY Oswego in September 1996, Martin “Marty” Currid remembers everything vividly. Those early memories stayed with him throughout a 24-year career with the Fire Department of New York City, where he rose through the ranks to battalion chief before retiring in February.

“I lived in Seneca Hall, Room 720,” said Currid, who is featured in a recent Oswego Alumni Podcast. “I can tell you verbatim what we did that day.”

Looking back, the 2001 graduate sees Oswego as the place that shaped how he thinks, leads and connects with others.

Currid chose SUNY Oswego because it felt like the right balance of independence and familiarity.

“I heard about the business program, and that stuck out to me,” he said. “I knew people going there, so I felt comfortable — but I was ready to go.”

At Oswego, he found himself drawn to challenging coursework in business, economics and statistics.

“I did better as it got harder,” he said. “The higher-level classes were intriguing.”

He credits professors like his marketing professor James Molinari for pushing him to grow.

“He held you to a standard,” Currid said. “You weren’t just another number in his class.”

Building lifelong relationships

While academics sharpened his thinking, it was the relationships he built that left the strongest impact.

“You’re going to stay tied with people,” said Currid, a Delta Kappa Kappa (DKK) brother. “You go on different paths, but those people stay with you.”

That proved true for FDNY Captain Chris Terho of SUNY Oswego's class of 2002, who met Currid at a DKK fraternity event early in their college years.

“I immediately got along with him,” Terho said. “He was funny, personable and got along with everyone, but he also really smart and hardworking.”

The two became close friends, even living together on West Seneca Street during their junior year. Years later, their bond remained strong. After Terho joined the Army and spent time overseas, Currid stayed in touch and later offered him a place to stay when he returned.

“That meant a lot,” Terho said. “Not many people outside of my family did that.”

Choosing the FDNY

Outside the classroom, Currid explored different career paths through experiences like the Disney College Program and an internship with the NBA. Those opportunities helped him realize what he didn’t want.

“I learned I wasn’t an office guy,” he said. “You’ve got to learn what you don’t want to do.”

Currid took the FDNY entrance exam, dedicating thousands of hours to preparation. The civil service test — offered every four years — advances only top scorers to a final physical agility exam. He first took it in 1999 before leaving for Disney World, then completed the physical test during winter break in 2000.

“You get one shot,” he said.

After graduating in 2001, he entered the FDNY through a graduate internship where learning remained priority — something he credits to the mindset he developed at Oswego.

“The education aspect never stopped,” he said. “That’s the biggest thing I took with me.”

Learning from tragedy

The fire department had to stand tall that fall, with the 9/11 terrorist attacks putting a spotlight on first responders' bravery, dedication and heroism.

Learning proved to be most important in a post-9/11 fire department that was rapidly expanding its mission and continuously seeking out new knowledge. In many ways he had Oswego to thank for thriving in that fast-paced environment.

A defining moment in his career came in 2005, when he deployed to New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.

“It opened my eyes to how big these problems really are,” he said.

The experience pushed Currid to pursue a graduate certificate in homeland security from Long Island University, reinforced by a lesson: Growth doesn’t stop after graduation.

“Our lives also followed a similar path,” Terho said. “Both in the FDNY, got married and had kids around the same time, even live in the same area.”

Currid’s rise through the ranks was rapid — lieutenant at 28 in November 2006, captain at 30 by June 2011 and in January 2018, battalion chief at 39 — but his approach to leadership remained grounded in humility and awareness.

“I’d rather sit at a round table than at the head of one,” he said. “You learn more that way.”

He focused on listening, asking questions and treating others with respect regardless of rank.

“You can tell as soon as you speak to him he’s smart and knows what he’s talking about,” Terho said. “He also treats everyone with respect. No matter who you are, he treats you like an equal.”

When Currid was promoted to battalion chief, it was both a proud and expected moment for Terho.

“I was proud of him. That’s a big accomplishment,” Terho said. “But I also knew it would happen … he was always at the top of everything.”

Even as he took on leadership roles, Currid maintained the mindset of a learner.

“I kind of became a sponge of information,” he said. “Always talk to people like they know something you don't know.”

Life after the firehouse

Now retired, Currid is focused on raising his two children while serving as vice president of the Danielle Currid Foundation, created in honor of his late wife who passed away in 2024 from cancer. The foundation provides scholarships for young women and supports families in need within his community.

“We ended up giving away $55,000,” he said. “I made sure every girl got something this year. I want to double it.”

The foundation hosted a Texas Hold ’Em tournament on April 11, giving supporters a chance to enjoy a casino-style night while raising money for young girls’ futures. In total they raised over $60,000 towards young girls' success.

“I miss it all. I think about it every day,” Currid said, recalling FDNY. “But now, my job is being a father.”

Terho expressed Currid's character and sense of humor remain intact after everything.

“Marty is a smart, charming person,” Terho said. “A great husband and father, especially now when his kids need him most.”

Currid will prioritize raising his children, Whitney and Marty III, as he steps into single parenthood.

“Today, they’re great,” Currid said. “Ask me again in five years — see if I did it right.”

— Written by Emily Sosa of the Class of 2026 for University Advancement